The Essential Rousseau; The Social Contract/Discourse on the Origin of Inequality/Discourse on the Arts and Science/The Creed of a Savoyard Priest

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques; Lowell Bair (trans.)

ISBN 10: 0452010314 / ISBN 13: 9780452010314

Verlag: Meridian, New York, 1983

pp. 300. 8vo. Light shelfwear, one short tear to cover; good. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 091860

Inhaltsangabe:

With splendid new translations, these four major works offer a superlative introduction to a great social philosopher whose ideas helped spark a revolution that has still not ended.
 
Can individual freedom and social stability be reconciled?
What is the function of government?
What are the benefits and liabilities of civilization?
What is the original nature of man, and how can he most fully realize his potential?
 
These were the questions that Jean-Jacques Rousseau investigated in works that helped set the stage for the French Revolution and have since stood as eloquent expressions of revolutionary views, not only in politics but also in such areas as personal lifestyles and educational practices. Rousseau’s concepts of the natural goodness of man, the corrupting influence of social institutions, and the right and the power of the people to overthrow their oppressors and create new and more responsive forms of government and society are as richly relevant today as they were in eighteenth-century France.

Includes:
The Social Contract
Discourse on Inequality
Discourse on the Arts and Sciences
“The Creed of a Savoyard Priest” (from Emile)

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, born on June 28, 1712, in Geneva, was a philosopher, writer, and composer who shaped Enlightenment thought and modern political theory. Raised by his father and aunt after his mother's death, Rousseau's early life was marked by wanderings and diverse experiences. At 15, he left Geneva, converted to Catholicism, and worked various jobs while exploring his intellectual interests.In Paris, Rousseau befriended Denis Diderot and contributed to the Encyclopédie, gaining recognition with his 1750 essay, Discourse on the Arts and Sciences. He argued that advancements in the arts and sciences had led to moral decay, introducing his critical stance on societal progress. His later works, including The Social Contract and Discourse on Inequality, challenged traditional authority and championed the idea of popular sovereignty.Rousseau's novel Émile presented groundbreaking views on education, emphasizing natural development and experiential learning. His radical ideas often brought him into conflict with authorities, resulting in bans and exile. Despite these challenges, Rousseau's philosophy inspired the French Revolution and continues to influence modern political and educational thought.

Bibliografische Details

Titel: The Essential Rousseau; The Social Contract/...
Verlag: Meridian, New York
Erscheinungsdatum: 1983
Einband: Paperback