rousseau on the social contract sparknotes

This produces inequality that is not tied to virtue. When the arts spread, people are made to admire talent and reward people based on their public image. Enlightenment also often produces wealth and wealth always ruins morality. Pursuing arts and sciences leaves the citizen idle and fails to teach him virtue. Science contains great danger, since falsehood more often results from science than truth. Rousseau argues that the sciences and arts themselves throw virtue and enlightenment into conflict. In this Discourse Rousseau started his lifelong study of how civilization both corrupts and improves humanity. The first Discourse won the contest and was Rousseau's first public success. The first Discourse, the Discourse on the Arts and Sciences, was a response to an essay contest which asked whether the development of the arts and sciences improved or corrupted human morality. The first two Discourses are contained within the book, while the third will not be analyzed here. The third Discourse is the Discourse on Political Economy. The First Discourse is the Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences, whereas the second is the Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality among Men. Rousseau composed three Discourses, writing the first two in 17, respectively. Rousseau's notoriety started from his earliest work, of which the first two Discourses are a part.

He also wrote one of the first autobiographies in the modern period, along with a pre-Romantic novel, Julie. His books Emile and The Social Contract were his most important philosophical works, the first setting out his philosophy of education and the second his political philosophy. His work, following his death, went on to influence the French Revolution. In his day, he was widely known as an essayist, composer and a representative of Enlightenment thought. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was among the most important philosophers of the 18th century and remains influential to this day both for his political philosophy and philosophy of education.

Rousseau on the social contract sparknotes