Book 3: Chapter 19, Rousseau Summary and Analysis

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was a French philosopher with immense influence on literature, manner, and politics. He appealed to the heart and sensibility. His system derived non-human facts from human emotions. He represented one of the two groups that others followed, with the other being represented by Locke. Hitler derived from Rousseau while Roosevelt and Churchil from Locke.

Rousseau was born in Geneva and was an orthodox Calvinist. His father was a watch-maker and dancing teacher. He left school when he was twelve and converted to Catholicism. Hs ethics may be questionable as he accused a girl of stealing a ribbon which he himself stolen from the dead Madame de Vercelli. After spending many years traveling, he became secretary to the French Ambassador to Venice, named Montaigu in 1743. In 1745 he fell in love with Therese le Vasseur...