Rousseau

The Routledge Philosophers

by Nicholas Dent

In this superb introduction, Nicholas Dent covers the whole of Rousseau's thought. Beginning with a helpful overview of Rousseau's life and works, he introduces and assesses Rousseau's central ideas and arguments. These include the corruption of modern civilization, the state of nature, his famous theories of amour de soi and amour propre , education, and his famous work Emile . He gives particular attention to Rousseau's theories of democracy and freedom found in his most celebrated work, The Social Contract , and explains what Rousseau meant by the 'general will'.

Genres: Philosophy

270 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2005

Reviews

[A. B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction. Rousseau is one of the profounder philosophers I've read in a while, and very insightful. It is very instructive to trace his influence on Western thought, as presumably the greatest influence on the Romantic era, and his ideas would resonate across the centuries. The last Enlightenment thinker of the austere classical conclusions of the Social Contract, and his Romantic temperament as revealed in the Confessions and the Reveries, truly make him a unique figure in the transition from the Enlightenment to the Romantic era.

His doctrines themselves show a deep concern and diagnosis of the decadence and excessive rationality of modern civilization, and his solution for that is the idea of man as a 'savage in cities', where a Sovereign based on the general will of the society would grant everyone the equal right to self-develop. His conception of amour-propre as the motivation for much of social life is also a powerful concept.

[Rashida Serrant-Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

So verbose, not interesting enough to keep me engaged. I won't finish it.

[Gotter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a serviceable introduction, but a disappointment compared to other books in this Routledge series. It also doesn't have the thoughtfulness of Grimsley's studies and no where near Starobinski's dazzling display.