Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the French Revolution and the development of liberal, conservative, and socialist theory. His works also impacted the growth of romanticism in literature and the arts.

Early Life

Rousseau was born in Geneva, which was at the time a city-state and a Protestant associate of the Swiss Confederacy. His mother, Suzanne Bernard Rousseau, died of puerperal fever nine days after his birth, which he later described as "the first of my misfortunes". He was raised by his father, Isaac Rousseau, a watchmaker, with whom he read avidly.

Career

Rousseau's most significant work, The Social Contract, outlines the basis for a legitimate political order within a framework of classical republicanism. His philosophy of education, expressed in his treatise Emile, or On Education, emphasizes the importance of expression rather than repression to produce a well-balanced, freethinking child. He expounded a new theory of art in The New Heloise, which influenced the development of romanticism in literature and the arts.

Health and Death

Rousseau suffered from several health problems throughout his life, including depression, urinary difficulties, gastrointestinal disease, and stroke. He died on 2 July 1778 from what appears to have been a sudden stroke.

Legacy

Rousseau's ideas have significantly influenced political and social thought. His work continues to be studied by scholars and students in the fields of philosophy, sociology, education, political science, and literature.