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About Rousseau Jean Jacques Rousseau was born June 28,1712 in Geneva, Switzerland to a French family of prodestants. His mother died 7 days after his birth from a puerperal fever. He was left in care of his father who was a watch maker and his aunt. His formal education ended when he was 12 and he was sent to a school in the country. later he became an apprentice to an engraver. Jean Jacques was paranoid, unsociable and a quarrelsome human being. His master was violent so he left in 1728 to Annecy. He spent 20 years traveling and studying. He met his mistress and converted to a Roman Catholic. He met Therese Levasseur in 1745. They never married but they had 5 children which they sent to an orphanage. In 1757 he had an affair with Sophie D’houdetot. He wrote many books, “discourse on the arts and sciences” in 1750, the “social contract” which is one of his most important works. After the publication of his book “Emile” he was banned from both Switzerland and France. Rousseau was charged with religious unorthodoxy and the books were burnt. He fled to different parts of Switzerland between 1762 and 1765. He went back to France and lived in disguise until 1770 when he was legally allowed to go back to Paris. He died July 2, 1778 of apoplexy.

time line
 * born june 28, 1712
 * discourse on arts and science 1750
 * social contract 1762
 * moved to paris 1742
 * emile 1762
 * july 4, 1776 declaration of independemce
 * apprentice in 1725
 * december 15, 1791 bill of rights
 * june 21, 1788 constitution
 * dies july 3, 1778

The Enlightenment There is a dispute as to whether Rousseau’s thought is best characterized as "enlightenment" or "counter enlightenment." The major goal of the enlightenment thinkers was to give a foundation to philosophy that was independent of any particular tradition, culture, or religion: one that any rational person would accept. The project has its roots in the birth of modern philosophy, in large part with the seventeenth century philosopher, Rene Descartes, who was very skeptical about the possibility of discovering final causes, or purposes, in nature. The teleological understanding of the world was the very cornerstone of Aristotelian metaphysics, which was the established philosophy of the time.

Discourse on the Arts and Sciences He argues that history of mans life on earth has been a history of decay importance to enlightenment suggested the contradiction between exterior world of the appearances and the inner world of feeling. This was his first major work that he had written. It won an essay contest by the Academy of Dijon.

Emile This work reminds us that nature doesn’t create kings or bishops, because all are created equal. Women are equal to men and men are equal to women. The Emile was published in 1762.

The Confessions He discusses the more unsavory or embarrassing experiences of his life in the work. He writes The Confessions more towards the end of his life.

The Social Contract This work was published in 1762. The social Contract caused a great controversy in France and was immediately banned by **﻿**Paris**﻿** authorities and quarrels with friends.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Discourse on the Origin of Inequality <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">This one didn’t win the Academy’s prize, but it was still very famous and widely read. This discourse further solidified Rousseau's place as a significant intellectual figure. His work is that human beings are basically good by nature, but were corrupted by complex historical events that resulted in present day civil society.