![]() ![]() A few of his most important works include Discourse on the Origins of Inequality, the Discourse on Political Economy, The Social Contract, and Emile. Rousseau viewed individuals as interdependent and the Enlightenment’s focus on individuality undermined the natural equality of human beings. Said differently, Rousseau appears to reject the atomistic individualism and the self-interest that it underscored by both Hobbes and Locke. To Rousseau, the Enlightenment simply created new forms of tyranny and diminished Man’s natural instinct toward compassion. Unlike Hobbes and Locke, Rousseau was a romantic who reacted negatively to the Enlightenment for its exclusive focus on reason and science. After experiencing a troubling childhood, he left Geneva at age sixteen and travelled to various European states including France, Prussia, and Switzerland. Rousseau was born in a poor section of Geneva, Switzerland. This chapter introduces students to the political and educational philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). 5 Chapter 5: Enlightenment Philosophy: Jean-Jacques Rousseau ![]()
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