Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of modern political and educational thought.
Rousseau's novel "Émile, or On Education" is a treatise on the education of the whole person for citizenship, and his discourse on the arts and sciences is a highly original work, winning the prize in an essay competition held by the Académie de Dijon in 1750.
He championed the idea of the "noble savage" who was uncorrupted by the complexities of civilization and believed that humanity's innate goodness was clouded by societal constraints. This and many other of his ideas led to a rich legacy of influence on future political and social structures.
Learn more about Rousseau's Ideas and how they shaped modern philosophy.