Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Jean-Jacques Rousseau: An 18th-century French-speaking philosopher and writer, born in Geneva (Switzerland). He is a central figure of the Enlightenment, known for his influential ideas on political philosophy, education, and the nature of human society. His work argued that human beings are naturally good but are corrupted by societal institutions, a concept that profoundly impacted modern political thought and events like the French Revolution.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The social contract theory of Jean-Jacques Rousseau differs significantly from that of Thomas Hobbes.
  • In his book Émile, Jean-Jacques Rousseau outlined his revolutionary ideas on education.
  • Many historians discuss the influence of Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the ideals of liberty and popular sovereignty.

Advanced Usage

• Rousseauian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
  • The community's structure was based on a Rousseauian ideal of the general will.
• The phrase "the noble savage" is a concept often associated with Rousseau's philosophy, describing the innate goodness and freedom of humans in a state of nature, before civilization.

Variants and Related Words

• Rousseau (n): A common shortened reference to Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
  • The writings of Rousseau challenged the established order of his time.
• The Social Contract (n): The title of Rousseau's most famous political work (1762), which explores the legitimacy of political authority.
• Confessions (n): The title of Rousseau's autobiography, notable for its introspection and personal honesty.

Synonyms

• Philosopher
• Enlightenment thinker
• Social theorist

Related Idioms and Concepts

• The general will: A key Rousseauian concept referring to the collective will of the citizenry aimed at the common good, as distinct from the sum of individual private wills.
  • The law, according to Rousseau, should be an expression of the general will.
• Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.: A famous opening line from that encapsulates Rousseau's critique of societal constraints on natural human freedom.

Noun

1. French philosopher and writer born in Switzerland; believed that the natural goodness of man was warped by society; ideas influenced the French Revolution (1712-1778)