🌱 Early Life & Education 👶 Born: June 28, 1712, in Geneva, Switzerland, into a middle-class family. 💔 Tough Start: Lost his mother shortly after birth, raised by his father, a skilled watchmaker. 📚 Self-Education: Lacked formal schooling, learning independently through books, especially classical literature. 🧠 Philosophical Circles: In Paris, Rousseau connected with Enlightenment thinkers like Denis Diderot, gaining new ideas and discussing topics like freedom, equality, and human rights.🧠 Key Philosophical Ideas 🌿 Natural Human Goodness: Rousseau believed humans are inherently good and that “natural” humans live with kindness, simplicity, and empathy. 🛠️ Impact of Society: He argued that society corrupts this natural goodness, replacing it with greed, jealousy, and pride due to structures like private property and social hierarchies. 🌳 Noble Savage Theory: A symbolic view of humans as “noble savages” who, outside societal rules, are self-reliant, virtuous, and closer to nature.📜 Major Works Discourse on the Arts and Sciences 📘 🖌️ Moral Corruption: Argued that the advancement of arts and sciences has weakened moral values, leading to jealousy and pride. 🎭 Critique of Society: Believed science and art distract from core virtues, creating artificiality in human character. Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality 📑 🏛️ Inequality's Roots: Claimed inequality isn’t natural but is created by societal structures, especially private property. 💰 Private Property: Saw property ownership as a main cause of social injustice, leading to hierarchy and power imbalances. The Social Contract 📖 ⚖️ General Will: Suggested individuals should align with a “general will” or collective good, prioritizing community interests over personal desires. 🗳️ Collective Sovereignty: Believed society’s ultimate power lies with the people and that governance should serve public welfare, not individual rulers. Émile, or On Education 📚 🧒 Child-Centered Learning: Advocated a natural approach to education, supporting children’s curiosity and autonomy over rigid systems. 🌿 Moral Development: Emphasized teaching through experiences and self-reflection rather than strict discipline or punishment.🚫 Society & Individual Rights 🔗 Freedom & Autonomy: Argued true freedom means living according to one’s own will, without undue control from others or the state. 🏛️ Ideal Government: Rousseau envisioned a government that respects individual freedom and protects citizens’ welfare through a balance of rights and responsibilities. 🏢 Public Consent: Believed legitimate government must be based on the people’s consent, aligning personal autonomy with a shared “general will.”🌍 Religious Views & Social Unity ⛪ Civil Religion: Proposed a “civil religion” to promote unity and ethical values without enforcing specific dogmas, advocating for separation of religion and state roles. ✨ Moral Basis of Religion: Emphasized that religion should support honesty, loyalty, and respect, avoiding political power and conflict.🌄 Connection with Nature 🌲 Harmony with Nature: Saw nature as central to human happiness and emotional stability, arguing it provides peace away from societal pressures. 🧘 Emotional Fulfillment: Believed that time spent in nature helps individuals reconnect with their true selves, promoting simplicity and humility.🌟 Impact on Later Thinkers & Movements 🗽 Influence on Philosophers: Inspired thinkers like John Locke and Immanuel Kant, who expanded on his ideas of freedom, ethics, and community welfare.
