Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Teacher, Composer, Philosopher, Political Theorist, Author
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, 1712. His mother (Suzanne Bernard) died a few days after his birth, leaving him with his father ( Isaac Rousseau) who would read French novels with him. By the time he was three years of age, Rousseau could read the French novels and had acquired a deep passion for music from his Aunt. At the age of ten, his father had to flee Geneva to avoid imprisonment.
Being finished with his formal education, he then went on to work for a notary public, a miserable watchmaker then a music tutor. In 1743 after a failed musical piece ( Dissertation sur la musique moderne ), and an admiration letter from Académie des Sciences, he went on to compose two operas. Les Muses galantes and Le Devin du village (1752). March of 1745 brought about a new love by the name of Thérèse Le Vasseur; a 24 year old maid at his place of residency. Together they had five children, all of which were given to a hospital for abandon children on account of Rousseau's inability to provide for them. In 1749 Rousseau visited Paris and had befriended Denis Diderot. He was asked to contribute to Denis Diderot's (1713–1784) Encyclopédie; the Lettre sur la musique française (1753) and the Dictionnaire de musique, published in 1767. Little did he know that this visit would lead to one of his greatest works, Discours sur les sciences et les arts, which discussed how the arts and sciences, had further imprisoned man rather than increasing their happiness and freeing them.
After being forced to flee from France he found himself at Yverdon in the territory of Bern. He was run out by the authorities. Here he met David Hume who he worked with for awhile before their friendship was ripped apart due to Rousseau believing that Hume was fraternizing with Rousseau's enemies. He then returned to France and settled in Paris under protection of the Prince de Conti where he lived the rest of his life making money as a music copier. July 2, 1778, with his wife Thérèse by his side, he died of Uremia, a severe kidney disease.
Achievements:
- Deemed the most important philosopher of the french enlightenment
- he was a teacher
- Contributor for the Encyclopédie
- introduced a new system of numbered notation (Dissertation sur la musique moderne)
- worked for the French Embassy in Venice
IDEAS:
- Human beings are good by nature but are rendered corrupt by society.
- Rousseau attributes to all creatures an instinctual drive towards self-preservation
WORKS:
- Discours sur l'origine et les Fondements de l'inégalité Parmi les Hommes (Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men)
- Composed Le Devin du village, (1752) ( Earning him much praise and fame)
- opera himself entitled, Les Muses galantes (1742)
- 1770 the Confessions
- L'émile ou de l'éducation (1762)
- Du contrat social (1762)
- Les Rêveries du promeneur solitaire ( Unfinished due to death )
The Social Contract
Rousseau's Social Contract is his idea of how society functions from it's true and original form. He states that perfect freedom is the natural condition of humans and is only corrupted due to man's restrictions. The only truly natural association is that of the family and it's features stretches far beyond the basic needs from which it begins. A genuine right for one person to rule over others cannot be established through military conquest or slavery according to his contract. Each individual must voluntarily participate in an social contract where they all agree to surrender to the rules to maintain a balanced and functional society. Each person must agree to trade independence for civil liberty. This can only be achieved through allowing social rights to outweigh individual rights. Rousseau believes that the surrendering of these rights must be for the benefit of the whole as a unit. The only problem is securing the participation of every individual.
To see how Jean-Jacques Rousseau would converse with his friends, click here!
Teacher, Composer, Philosopher, Political Theorist, Author
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, 1712. His mother (Suzanne Bernard) died a few days after his birth, leaving him with his father ( Isaac Rousseau) who would read French novels with him. By the time he was three years of age, Rousseau could read the French novels and had acquired a deep passion for music from his Aunt. At the age of ten, his father had to flee Geneva to avoid imprisonment.
Being finished with his formal education, he then went on to work for a notary public, a miserable watchmaker then a music tutor. In 1743 after a failed musical piece ( Dissertation sur la musique moderne ), and an admiration letter from Académie des Sciences, he went on to compose two operas. Les Muses galantes and Le Devin du village (1752). March of 1745 brought about a new love by the name of Thérèse Le Vasseur; a 24 year old maid at his place of residency. Together they had five children, all of which were given to a hospital for abandon children on account of Rousseau's inability to provide for them. In 1749 Rousseau visited Paris and had befriended Denis Diderot. He was asked to contribute to Denis Diderot's (1713–1784) Encyclopédie; the Lettre sur la musique française (1753) and the Dictionnaire de musique, published in 1767. Little did he know that this visit would lead to one of his greatest works, Discours sur les sciences et les arts, which discussed how the arts and sciences, had further imprisoned man rather than increasing their happiness and freeing them.
After being forced to flee from France he found himself at Yverdon in the territory of Bern. He was run out by the authorities. Here he met David Hume who he worked with for awhile before their friendship was ripped apart due to Rousseau believing that Hume was fraternizing with Rousseau's enemies. He then returned to France and settled in Paris under protection of the Prince de Conti where he lived the rest of his life making money as a music copier. July 2, 1778, with his wife Thérèse by his side, he died of Uremia, a severe kidney disease.
Achievements:
- Deemed the most important philosopher of the french enlightenment
- he was a teacher
- Contributor for the Encyclopédie
- introduced a new system of numbered notation (Dissertation sur la musique moderne)
- worked for the French Embassy in Venice
IDEAS:
- Human beings are good by nature but are rendered corrupt by society.
- Rousseau attributes to all creatures an instinctual drive towards self-preservation
WORKS:
- Discours sur l'origine et les Fondements de l'inégalité Parmi les Hommes (Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men)
- Composed Le Devin du village, (1752) ( Earning him much praise and fame)
- opera himself entitled, Les Muses galantes (1742)
- 1770 the Confessions
- L'émile ou de l'éducation (1762)
- Du contrat social (1762)
- Les Rêveries du promeneur solitaire ( Unfinished due to death )
The Social Contract
Rousseau's Social Contract is his idea of how society functions from it's true and original form. He states that perfect freedom is the natural condition of humans and is only corrupted due to man's restrictions. The only truly natural association is that of the family and it's features stretches far beyond the basic needs from which it begins. A genuine right for one person to rule over others cannot be established through military conquest or slavery according to his contract. Each individual must voluntarily participate in an social contract where they all agree to surrender to the rules to maintain a balanced and functional society. Each person must agree to trade independence for civil liberty. This can only be achieved through allowing social rights to outweigh individual rights. Rousseau believes that the surrendering of these rights must be for the benefit of the whole as a unit. The only problem is securing the participation of every individual.
To see how Jean-Jacques Rousseau would converse with his friends, click here!
Additional Information:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau Biography: http://bit.ly/1iiVU1p
This link contains a biography, his accomplishments and works.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques (1712-1778): http://bit.ly/1iew6SZ
This link contains information about Rousseau's life and his ideas.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712—1778): http://www.iep.utm.edu/rousseau/
This link contains more in depth looks at Rousseau's works.
cites:
http://bit.ly/1iS7IGp
http://bit.ly/1puaVkG http://bit.ly/S2BvCQ
Learning Activity:
Have students create a collage focusing on their researched Enlightenment thinker. The collage can include name, time associated with, achievements, likes and dislikes, friends, quotes etc. When the collages are finished, the students will present them and give a synopsis of their thinker.
User friendly collage making tools
Photovisi: http://www.photovisi.com/
Fotor: http://www.fotor.com/features/collage.html
Be Funky: http://www.befunky.com/features/collage-maker/
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