ジャン＝ジャック・ルソー（1712-78年）は、近代史上最も奥深い思想家のひとりで、「高貴な野蛮人」という概念を生み、ヨーロッパの啓蒙運動の中心的存在でした。本書では音楽、政治、文学、教育、宗教、さらに植物学にいたるまで、ルソーが取り組んだ幅広い分野に関する思想を検証し、それらが拘束のない自由な状態での人間の自己実現、という明確なヴィジョンを伴った理想から生まれたものであることを明らかにします。(cf. The Enlightenment, #443; Discourse on Political Economy and The Social Contract (Oxford World's Classics); Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (Oxford World's Classics); Reveries on the Solitary Walker (Oxford World's Classics))
   

• Rousseau was a central figure of the European Enlightenment, responsible for the notion of the 'noble savage'
• Examines Rousseau's philosophy of history, his theories of music and politics, his fiction, educational and religious writings, and even his botany
• Ideal reading for students of history, philosophy, and literature of the Enlightenment Period
• There are many longer specialized works on Rousseau's life and work, but none that covers so much ground in such a stimulating and compact way

  
One of the most profound thinkers of modern history, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) was a central figure of the European Enlightenment. He was also its most formidable critic, condemning the political, economic, theological, and sexual trappings of civilization along lines that would excite the enthusiasm of romantic individualists and radical revolutionaries alike.

In this study of Rousseau's life and works Robert Wokler shows how his philosophy of history, his theories of music and politics, his fiction, educational and religious writings, and even his botany, were all inspired by visionary ideals of mankind's self-realization in a condition of unfettered freedom. He explains how, in regressing to classical republicanism, ancient mythology, direct communion with God, and solitude, Rousseau anticipated some post-modernist rejections of the Enlightenment as well.