JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

a critical philosopher

Abstract

Upon reading Rousseau’s work, we come across extreme reflection, which exceeds the boundary of mere criticism against society’s customs and habits towards a deeper level, to fight the prevailing paradigm of the XVIII century, i.e. the predominance of rationality. The confrontation of three discourses – Discourse on the sciences and the arts (1749), Discourse on political economy (1755) and Discourse on the origin and foundations of inequality among men (1755) versus On Social Contract (1762) and Emile (1762) allows viewing Rousseau’s thought as a unique phenomenon amidst the euphoric discourses of Enlightenment intellectuals.