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Lettres sur la botanique
Comment reconnaître les différentes parties d'une fleur ? Qu'est-ce qu'une Scrofulaire ? À quelle famille de plantes appartient la Ciguë ? Comment réaliser un herbier dans les règles de l'art ? Dans ces huit lettres à l'érudition teintée de poésie, Rousseau nous invite à examiner la nature et se fait le "décodeur amusé" d'un monde végétal foisonnant et mystérieux. "Il n'y a rien de compliqué ni de difficile à suivre dans ce que j'ai à vous proposer. Il ne s'agit que d'avoir la patience de commencer par le commencement."
- GenresNonfiction
96 pages, Pocket Book
Published October 5, 2023
11 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
4,723 books2,979 followersGenevan philosopher and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau held that society usually corrupts the essentially good individual; his works include
The Social Contract
and
Émile
(both 1762).
This important figure in the history contributed to political and moral psychology and influenced later thinkers. Own firmly negative view saw the post-hoc rationalizers of self-interest, apologists for various forms of tyranny, as playing a role in the modern alienation from natural impulse of humanity to compassion. The concern to find a way of preserving human freedom in a world of increasingly dependence for the satisfaction of their needs dominates work. This concerns a material dimension and a more important psychological dimensions. Rousseau a fact that in the modern world, humans come to derive their very sense of self from the opinions as corrosive of freedom and destructive of authenticity. In maturity, he principally explores the first political route, aimed at constructing institutions that allow for the co-existence of equal sovereign citizens in a community; the second route to achieving and protecting freedom, a project for child development and education, fosters autonomy and avoids the development of the most destructive forms of self-interest. Rousseau thinks or the possible co-existence of humans in relations of equality and freedom despite his consistent and overwhelming pessimism that humanity will escape from a dystopia of alienation, oppression, and unfreedom. In addition to contributions, Rousseau acted as a composer, a music theorist, the pioneer of modern autobiography, a novelist, and a botanist. Appreciation of the wonders of nature and his stress on the importance of emotion made Rousseau an influence on and anticipator of the romantic movement. To a very large extent, the interests and concerns that mark his work also inform these other activities, and contributions of Rousseau in ostensibly other fields often serve to illuminate his commitments and arguments.
This important figure in the history contributed to political and moral psychology and influenced later thinkers. Own firmly negative view saw the post-hoc rationalizers of self-interest, apologists for various forms of tyranny, as playing a role in the modern alienation from natural impulse of humanity to compassion. The concern to find a way of preserving human freedom in a world of increasingly dependence for the satisfaction of their needs dominates work. This concerns a material dimension and a more important psychological dimensions. Rousseau a fact that in the modern world, humans come to derive their very sense of self from the opinions as corrosive of freedom and destructive of authenticity. In maturity, he principally explores the first political route, aimed at constructing institutions that allow for the co-existence of equal sovereign citizens in a community; the second route to achieving and protecting freedom, a project for child development and education, fosters autonomy and avoids the development of the most destructive forms of self-interest. Rousseau thinks or the possible co-existence of humans in relations of equality and freedom despite his consistent and overwhelming pessimism that humanity will escape from a dystopia of alienation, oppression, and unfreedom. In addition to contributions, Rousseau acted as a composer, a music theorist, the pioneer of modern autobiography, a novelist, and a botanist. Appreciation of the wonders of nature and his stress on the importance of emotion made Rousseau an influence on and anticipator of the romantic movement. To a very large extent, the interests and concerns that mark his work also inform these other activities, and contributions of Rousseau in ostensibly other fields often serve to illuminate his commitments and arguments.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 25, 2023
Through this short epistolary work, Rousseau tries to introduce a friend to botany. From the different parts of the flower to its family, we are suddenly immersed in this fascinating science.
If we know Rousseau rather well through his philosophical writings, it is much less the case for his passion for botany. Claiming to be a beginner, he nevertheless tries to share this love of the plant world through these few letters.
It was really interesting. We could imagine an edition of this book accompanied by descriptive diagrams that would facilitate the understanding. We can however look at pictures of different plants on the internet to know what the plant we are talking about looks like. You will finish the book with some botanical notions.
"I do not know of any reasonable study that is not a science of words; and to which of the two, I beg you, would I grant the name of botanist, the one who knows how to spit out a name or a phrase at the appearance of a plant, without knowing anything about its structure, or the one who knowing very well this structure nevertheless ignores the very arbitrary name that is given to this plant in such and such a country.
If we know Rousseau rather well through his philosophical writings, it is much less the case for his passion for botany. Claiming to be a beginner, he nevertheless tries to share this love of the plant world through these few letters.
It was really interesting. We could imagine an edition of this book accompanied by descriptive diagrams that would facilitate the understanding. We can however look at pictures of different plants on the internet to know what the plant we are talking about looks like. You will finish the book with some botanical notions.
"I do not know of any reasonable study that is not a science of words; and to which of the two, I beg you, would I grant the name of botanist, the one who knows how to spit out a name or a phrase at the appearance of a plant, without knowing anything about its structure, or the one who knowing very well this structure nevertheless ignores the very arbitrary name that is given to this plant in such and such a country.
September 7, 2025
Dommage qu'on ait seulement les lettres de Rousseau et pas également celles réponses de Mme Delessert. L'intérêt de publier ce genre de correspondance est d'avoir les questions de l'élève et les réponses du "professeur". Sans quoi, Rousseau monologue dans le vide (même si les lettres restent une bonne introduction à la botanique).
February 6, 2023
Very relaxing and pleasing book to read.
Perfect for passing time in the subway.
This let's us the opportunity to discovers a new side of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, we are not reading the philosopher anymore but a passionate botanist.
We are following his correspondance with one of his dearest friend, that he call "Cousine", he gives to her and to her daughter some lessons about flower to help the duchess to develop the culture and interests of her daugther.
This book can be helpful in every day life and help us tu know some little things about flowers that you wouldn't even think about.
However, if flowers and botanic are not one of your interest in the first place , you may find this book boring.
Perfect for passing time in the subway.
This let's us the opportunity to discovers a new side of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, we are not reading the philosopher anymore but a passionate botanist.
We are following his correspondance with one of his dearest friend, that he call "Cousine", he gives to her and to her daughter some lessons about flower to help the duchess to develop the culture and interests of her daugther.
This book can be helpful in every day life and help us tu know some little things about flowers that you wouldn't even think about.
However, if flowers and botanic are not one of your interest in the first place , you may find this book boring.
August 7, 2025
Un libro precioso, que recopila una seguidilla de correspondencias que dejan entrever una nueva faceta del fascinante filósofo Jean-Jacques Rousseau, una que no tiene que ver con política ni novelas, sino con plantas.
El libro contiene ocho cartas que escribe el francés a una prima y a su hija para introducirlas en la disciplina del cuidado y la contemplación de las plantas. Mediante el examen y categorización de ellas, Rousseau entrega claves similares a las del Emilio, señalando que el aprendizaje es posible solo mediante los sentidos, y que no hay nada mejor para la formación de un buen ciudadano que maravillarse con el examen de la naturaleza.
Las cartas son un bálsamo, un escape a tanto estímulo pa empaparse de verde, de briss, de hojas, de tallos y cortezas. Liviano y simple, sugiero leerlo a cualquiera fascinado con las plantas y los aportes que estas pueden llegar a tener para la humanidad.
El libro contiene ocho cartas que escribe el francés a una prima y a su hija para introducirlas en la disciplina del cuidado y la contemplación de las plantas. Mediante el examen y categorización de ellas, Rousseau entrega claves similares a las del Emilio, señalando que el aprendizaje es posible solo mediante los sentidos, y que no hay nada mejor para la formación de un buen ciudadano que maravillarse con el examen de la naturaleza.
Las cartas son un bálsamo, un escape a tanto estímulo pa empaparse de verde, de briss, de hojas, de tallos y cortezas. Liviano y simple, sugiero leerlo a cualquiera fascinado con las plantas y los aportes que estas pueden llegar a tener para la humanidad.
September 11, 2020
"Lettere sulla botanica" è una breve raccolta epistolare tenuta tra Jean-Jacques Rousseau e Marie-Catherine Delessert tra il 1771 e il 1773.
Costretto a fuggire in Svizzera, il famoso filosofo scopre l'amore scientifico per la natura, che lo porterà a indagare i principi della botanica e a condividerli con la sua cara amica, alla quale elenca minuziosamente le varie parti del fiore, le differenze fondamentali tra specie e specie, fino ad arrivare all'organizzazione e la cura di un erbario.
Purtroppo però la conversazione è a senso unico perchè non sono presenti le lettere di risposta di Marie-Catherine. Le nozioni esposte sono abbastanza elementari, tanto che, conoscendo le basi della botanica, un lettore moderno non avrà nessun problema a seguire il discorso.
Costretto a fuggire in Svizzera, il famoso filosofo scopre l'amore scientifico per la natura, che lo porterà a indagare i principi della botanica e a condividerli con la sua cara amica, alla quale elenca minuziosamente le varie parti del fiore, le differenze fondamentali tra specie e specie, fino ad arrivare all'organizzazione e la cura di un erbario.
Purtroppo però la conversazione è a senso unico perchè non sono presenti le lettere di risposta di Marie-Catherine. Le nozioni esposte sono abbastanza elementari, tanto che, conoscendo le basi della botanica, un lettore moderno non avrà nessun problema a seguire il discorso.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews