Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques ( 1712 – 78 )French philosopher and writer, born in Switzerland. From 1750 he came to fame with a series of works highly critical of the existing social order; his philosophy is underpinned by a belief in the fundamental goodness of human nature, encapsulated in the concept of the ‘noble savage’, and the warping effects of civilization. In his novel Émile ( 1762 ) Rousseau formulated new educational principles giving the child full scope for individual development in natural surroundings, shielded from the corrupting influences of civilization. His Social Contract ( 1762 ) anticipated much of the thinking of the French Revolution. Rousseau is also noted for his Confessions ( 1782 ), one of the earliest autobiographies.
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