Richard Rousseau Research Paper
Rousseau was born on June 28, 1712 in Geneva, and later died on July 2, 1778 in France. Over a week after Rousseau's birth, Rousseau's mother died. Rousseau was mainly raised by his father, a clockmaker, because of this. Early in Rousseau's life, his father got into trouble with a French captain, which led to his fleeing from Geneva for the rest of his life. Rousseau, however, stayed behind with his uncle.
By the time Rousseau was 13 years old, he became an apprentice to an engraver whom he held strong disdain towards. Therefore, Rousseau fled Geneva to Annecy in 1728. There, Rousseau met Louise de Warens, who greatly influenced his views and ideas, and his converting to Catholicism. After several years, Rousseau and Louise de Warens became romantic.
In 1742 Rousseau became a composer and musician in Paris, France. Five years later, Rousseau falls in love with Therese Levassuer (which he then married in 1768). They had five children, all of whom were sent to orphanages – which some might say contradicts his beliefs.
In 1750, Rousseau published his Discourse on the Arts and Sciences, in response to the Academy of Dijon's essay contest, where he explained his views and ideas on how the arts and sciences have affected human civilization. During …show more content…
the autumn of 1753, Rousseau published his Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Among Men. Then in 1762, in the home of the Duke of Luxemburg at Montmorency, Rousseau published The Social Contract, and Emile. The Social Contract entailed Rousseau's political views while Rousseau's Emile entailed his views on education.
Rousseau believed that long ago, before society and civilizations, humans lived in what he called the "State of Nature". In this state of nature, Rousseau believed that humans were generally neutral and peaceful towards each other. He thought that because there were no societies, envy, pride, or even fear of others did not exist. This is why Rousseau believed that humans are born pure and good, but society corrupts them. In Rousseau's Social Contract, Rousseau stated: "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."
Rousseau believed that man should be equal when it comes to government. Rousseau believed that a society needs to find a way to bring everyone to help and protect everyone else, so that everyone is equal. Rousseau stated this in his Social Contract: “Find a form of association that will bring the whole common force to bear on defending and protecting each associate’s person and goods, doing this in such a way that each of them, while uniting himself with all, still obeys only himself and remains as free as before.” In this, Rousseau pointed out that if everyone unites themselves with everyone else, then they are really still only obeying themselves, which means they are still free.
For government, Rousseau believed that in order for a nation to be stable, it needs to conform and cater to what Rousseau called the "general will".
Basically, Rousseau's general will is the interest of the majority of the common people. This democratic thinking helped pave the way for the United States' government. Rousseau believed that the laws of a nation should be created by the people, so everyone would be subject to their own will, which also maintains freedom. Rousseau also believed in religious toleration. This means that Rousseau believed that people should be able to practice whatever religion they desire. In his Social Contract, Rousseau wrote that the true sign of a good government is an ever-growing
population.
For education, Rousseau was against book learning or the traditional education. Rousseau believed that the goal of education is to live righteously from the learning from other's experiences and one's own experiences. In his Emile, Rousseau calls for a new form of "natural" education that shields children from the corruption of civilization and prepares them for when they do enter society. To Rousseau, the responsibility of the educator is to civilize the student, while preserving their natural qualities.
Rousseau's ideas greatly influenced the minds of the leaders of the French Revolution. His naturalistic philosophies were a foundation for Europe's Romantic Naturalism. Some of Rousseau's ideals were also influential to Karl Marx. Rousseau's ideas on equality and his disdain towards absolute power in a government were an inspiration to the founding fathers of the United States.
By the time Rousseau was 13 years old, he became an apprentice to an engraver whom he held strong disdain towards. Therefore, Rousseau fled Geneva to Annecy in 1728. There, Rousseau met Louise de Warens, who greatly influenced his views and ideas, and his converting to Catholicism. After several years, Rousseau and Louise de Warens became romantic.
In 1742 Rousseau became a composer and musician in Paris, France. Five years later, Rousseau falls in love with Therese Levassuer (which he then married in 1768). They had five children, all of whom were sent to orphanages – which some might say contradicts his beliefs.
In 1750, Rousseau published his Discourse on the Arts and Sciences, in response to the Academy of Dijon's essay contest, where he explained his views and ideas on how the arts and sciences have affected human civilization. During …show more content…
the autumn of 1753, Rousseau published his Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Among Men. Then in 1762, in the home of the Duke of Luxemburg at Montmorency, Rousseau published The Social Contract, and Emile. The Social Contract entailed Rousseau's political views while Rousseau's Emile entailed his views on education.
Rousseau believed that long ago, before society and civilizations, humans lived in what he called the "State of Nature". In this state of nature, Rousseau believed that humans were generally neutral and peaceful towards each other. He thought that because there were no societies, envy, pride, or even fear of others did not exist. This is why Rousseau believed that humans are born pure and good, but society corrupts them. In Rousseau's Social Contract, Rousseau stated: "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."
Rousseau believed that man should be equal when it comes to government. Rousseau believed that a society needs to find a way to bring everyone to help and protect everyone else, so that everyone is equal. Rousseau stated this in his Social Contract: “Find a form of association that will bring the whole common force to bear on defending and protecting each associate’s person and goods, doing this in such a way that each of them, while uniting himself with all, still obeys only himself and remains as free as before.” In this, Rousseau pointed out that if everyone unites themselves with everyone else, then they are really still only obeying themselves, which means they are still free.
For government, Rousseau believed that in order for a nation to be stable, it needs to conform and cater to what Rousseau called the "general will".
Basically, Rousseau's general will is the interest of the majority of the common people. This democratic thinking helped pave the way for the United States' government. Rousseau believed that the laws of a nation should be created by the people, so everyone would be subject to their own will, which also maintains freedom. Rousseau also believed in religious toleration. This means that Rousseau believed that people should be able to practice whatever religion they desire. In his Social Contract, Rousseau wrote that the true sign of a good government is an ever-growing
population.
For education, Rousseau was against book learning or the traditional education. Rousseau believed that the goal of education is to live righteously from the learning from other's experiences and one's own experiences. In his Emile, Rousseau calls for a new form of "natural" education that shields children from the corruption of civilization and prepares them for when they do enter society. To Rousseau, the responsibility of the educator is to civilize the student, while preserving their natural qualities.
Rousseau's ideas greatly influenced the minds of the leaders of the French Revolution. His naturalistic philosophies were a foundation for Europe's Romantic Naturalism. Some of Rousseau's ideals were also influential to Karl Marx. Rousseau's ideas on equality and his disdain towards absolute power in a government were an inspiration to the founding fathers of the United States.