Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a pivotal figure in the Enlightenment, born on June 28, 1712, in Geneva, and died on July 2, 1778, in Ermenonville, France. He was a philosopher, writer, and composer whose ideas profoundly influenced politics, literature, and education, among other fields.
Rousseau's mother died shortly after his birth, leaving him in the care of his father, a watchmaker. His father's arrest forced him to leave Geneva, and Rousseau was subsequently raised by an aunt and uncle. His early education was erratic, but he developed a passion for reading, particularly the works of Plutarch and Montaigne.
His most influential philosophical works include:
Besides his philosophical works, Rousseau also contributed to:
Rousseau's ideas had a significant impact on the French Revolution, where his notions of sovereignty, democracy, and the social contract were echoed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. His thoughts on education inspired educational reformers, and his political philosophy influenced figures like Immanuel Kant and later Karl Marx.
His life was also marked by controversy. His works were banned in several places, including Geneva and France, due to their radical nature. Rousseau spent his later years in exile, moving between places to avoid persecution.
Rousseau's personal life was tumultuous. He had several children with Thérèse Levasseur, whom he never married, and he famously sent all of them to foundling homes, a decision that has been widely criticized.