Emile, or On Education is a treatise on the nature of education and on the nature of man. It was written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and published in 1762. It is considered one of the most significant works on philosophy and education.
The work is divided into five books, each devoted to the education of a single individual Emile through his entire life: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Rousseau explores the relationship between the individual and society, emphasizing the importance of expression, freedom, and personal development. The famous statement that "man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" can be attributed to the philosophy expressed within Emile.