Synopsis
Excerpt from Jean Jacques Rousseau
It is always difficult to be just in re gard to events that have changed the face of the world. There are so many things to be weighed, it is necessary to consider the whole from a standpoint so high and so remote, that a hundred years is not enough to give us the right perspective. We are no better situated with regard to these exceptional men, beings more com plex than others and so much the more difficult to understand.
Rousseau is of that number. His talent is the only thing about him which is not open to discussion. As an artistin language he is recognized as without a peer (the first French critic of our epoch has proclaimed him' the king of prose writers and Littré quotes him on every page). But the character, the philosophy, the influence of Rousseau are still matters of dispute.
By the second centenary it will not be so difficult to be just; let us at the first at least make the attempt to be so. The thought which inspires this festival and which ought to guide us, is a thought of justice. Historic justice towards a great man consists in placing him in his proper station and recognizing what his func tions were.
What then shall our task be? Set ting aside the eleven thousand pages of our author, and the fifty or sixty volumes on, for, or against him; letting all the old quarrels sleep, we propose to recallin a few words the career of Rousseau, then to seek for the deep-lying reasons of his success; and finally to pass a rapid judgment upon his thought and his work. Not a panegyric, not an apotheosis, but an enumeration of the positive claims of the Genevese philosopher, that is all.
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Jean Jacques Rousseau (Classic Reprint)
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Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book examines the life and works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, widely considered one of the most influential thinkers of the 18th century. A pivotal figure in the Enlightenment era, Rousseau's ideas profoundly shaped modern thought on politics, education, and religion. The author delves into Rousseau's unique personality, exploring the paradoxical nature of a man who was both passionate and reserved, idealistic yet pragmatic. By analyzing his major works, including "Ãmile," "The Social Contract," and "Confessions," the book reveals the depth of Rousseau's insights into human nature, social justice, and the pursuit of happiness. Exploring the themes of individuality, freedom, and the search for authenticity, this book sheds light on the enduring legacy of Rousseau's philosophy. His belief in the inherent goodness of humanity continues to resonate in contemporary debates on education, political systems, and personal fulfillment. Ultimately, this book invites readers to engage with Rousseau's complex and thought-provoking ideas, gaining a deeper understanding of his impact on Western thought and the enduring relevance of his insights into human existence. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781330908747_0
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