An exceptional anthology designed for courses on Rousseau, the history of philosophy, and women's studies

Joel Schwartz presents the first systematic treatment of Rousseau's understanding of the political importance of women, sexuality, and the family. Using both Rousseau's lesser-known literary works and such major writings as Emile, Julie, and The Second Discourse, he offers an original and provocative presentation of Rousseau's argument. To read Rousseau, Schwartz believes, is to enter into a profound discourse about the meaning of sexual equality and the opportunities, pitfalls, costs, and benefits that sexual relationships bestow and impose on us all. His own thoughtful reading of Rousseau opens up fresh perspectives on political philosophy and the history of sexual, masculine, and feminine psychology.

A progenitor of modern egalitarianism, communitarianism, and participatory democracy, Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a philosopher whose deep concern with the relationship between the domains of private domestic and public political life has made him especially interesting to feminist theorists, but also has made him very controversial. The essays in this volume, representing a wide range of feminist interpretations of Rousseau, explore the many tensions in his thought that arise from his unique combination of radical and traditional perspectives on gender relations and the state. Among the topics addressed by the contributors are the connections between Rousseau&’s political vision of the egalitarian state and his view of the &"natural&" role of women in the family; Rousseau&’s apparent fear of the actual danger and power of women; important questions Rousseau raised about child care and gender relations in individualist societies that feminists should address; the founding of republics; the nature of consent; the meaning of citizenship; and the conflation of modern universal ideals of democratic citizenship with modern masculinity, leading to the suggestion that the latter is as fragile a construction as the former. Overall this volume makes an important contribution to a core question at the hinge of modernism and postmodernism: how modern, egalitarian notions of social contract, premised on universality and objective reason, can yet result in systematic exclusion of social groups, including women. Contributors are Leah Bradshaw, Melissa A. Butler, Anne Harper, Sarah Kofman, Rebecca Kukla, Lynda Lange, Ingrid Makus, Lori J. Marso, Mira Morgenstern, Susan Moller Okin, Alice Ormiston, Penny Weiss, Elie Wiestad, Elizabeth Wingrove, Monique Wittig, and Linda Zerilli.

Romanticism and Civilization examines romantic alternatives to modern life in Rousseau’s foundational novel Julie. It argues that Julie is a response to the ills of modern civilization, and that Rousseau saw that the Enlightenment’s combination of science and of democracy degraded human life by making it bourgeois. The bourgeois is man uprooted by science and attached to nothing but himself. He lives a commercial life and his materialism and calculations penetrate all aspects of his existence. He is neither citizen, nor family man, nor lover in any serious sense: his life is meaningless. Rousseau’s romanticism in Julie is an attempt to find connectedness through the sentiments of private life and wholeness through love, marriage, and family.

The essays in this volume focus on Rousseau's genuine yet undervalued stature as a philosopher.

Fully updated and revised, the second edition of New Learning explores the contemporary debates and challenges in education and considers how schools can prepare their students for the future. New Learning, Second Edition is an inspiring and comprehensive resource for pre-service and in-service teachers alike.

Welcome to the transformative world of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile, a groundbreaking treatise on education and human development that has influenced generations. This philosophical masterpiece invites readers to embark on a journey through the eyes of a young boy, Emile, as he navigates the complexities of life, learning, and the pursuit of virtue in a society fraught with challenges. As you delve into the narrative, you will accompany Emile through various stages of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, witnessing his development into a morally grounded and autonomous individual. Rousseau’s insights into the nature of education emphasize the importance of nurturing a child's innate curiosity and allowing them to learn through experience rather than rote memorization. The central themes of Emile revolve around the concepts of natural education, individuality, and the social contract. Rousseau advocates for an educational system that respects the child's natural instincts and fosters a sense of freedom and self-discovery. His philosophy challenges traditional notions of education, urging readers to consider the balance between society's demands and the individual's rights. The tone of the book is both earnest and reflective, encouraging deep contemplation about the nature of education and the cultivation of virtue. Rousseau's eloquent prose and compelling arguments create an engaging experience that resonates with readers, prompting them to reflect on their own educational philosophies and practices. Since its publication in 1762, Emile has received widespread acclaim for its innovative ideas and profound impact on educational theory. Its enduring relevance is evident in modern discussions about child development, education reform, and the importance of fostering individuality in learning environments. This seminal work appeals to a broad audience, from educators and parents to philosophers and anyone interested in the intricacies of human development. Rousseau's exploration of education as a tool for moral and intellectual growth makes Emile an essential read for those seeking to understand the foundations of modern pedagogy. As you engage with Emile, you will find yourself inspired by Rousseau's vision of a more compassionate and individualized approach to education. His emphasis on the importance of nurturing the child's spirit and intellect resonates deeply, making this work a timeless guide for educators and parents alike. In conclusion, Emile is not merely a book on education; it is a profound exploration of humanity and the journey toward self-discovery that continues to captivate readers with its insights and wisdom. Whether you are revisiting this classic or encountering it for the first time, prepare to be enlightened by Rousseau's transformative ideas. Don’t miss your opportunity to engage with Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile. Discover the revolutionary ideas that have shaped educational thought and inspired countless individuals to embrace the journey of learning—grab your copy now and explore the depths of human potential!

The acclaimed series The Collected Writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau concludes with a volume centering on Emile (1762), which Rousseau called his “greatest and best book.” Here Rousseau enters into critical engagement with thinkers such as Locke and Plato, giving his most comprehensive account of the relation between happiness and citizenship, teachers and students, and men and women. In this volume Christopher Kelly presents Allan Bloom’s translation, newly edited and cross-referenced to match the series. The volume also contains the first-ever translation of the first draft of Emile, the “Favre Manuscript,” and a new translation of Emile and Sophie, or the Solitaries. The Collected Writings of Rousseau Roger D. Masters and Christopher Kelly, series editors 1. Rousseau, Judge of Jean-Jacques: Dialogues 2. Discourse on the Sciences and Arts (First Discourse) and Polemics 3. Discourse on the Origins of Inequality (Second Discourse) Polemics, and Political Economy 4. Social Contract, Discourse on the Virtue Most Necessary for a Hero, Political Fragments, and Geneva Manuscript 5. The Confessions and Correspondence, Including the Letters to Malesherbes 6. Julie, or the New Heloise: Letters of Two Lovers Who Live in a Small Town at the Foot of the Alps 7. Essay on the Origin of Languages and Writings Related to Music 8. The Reveries of the Solitary Walker, Botanical Writings, and Letter to Franquières 9. Letter to Beaumont, Letters Written from the Mountain 10. Letter to D’Alembert and Writings for the Theater 11. The Plan for Perpetual Peace, On the Government of Poland, and Other Writings on History and Politics 12. Autobiographical, Scientific, Religious, Moral, and Literary Writings 13. Emile or On Education (Includes Emile and Sophie; or The Solitaries)

Family Feuds is the first sustained comparative study of the place of the family in the political thought of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Edmund Burke, and Mary Wollstonecraft. Eileen Hunt Botting argues that Wollstonecraft recognized both Rousseau's and Burke's influential stature in late eighteenth-century debates about the family. Wollstonecraft critically identified them as philosophical and political partners in the defense of the patriarchal structure of the family, yet she used Rousseau's conceptions of childhood education and maternal empowerment and Burke's understanding of the family as the affective basis for political socialization as a theoretical foundation for her own egalitarian vision of the family. It is this ideal of the egalitarian family, Botting contends, that is one of the most important yet least appreciated legacies of Enlightenment political thought.

A fascinating examination of the relationship between civilization and inequality from one of history’s greatest minds The first man to erect a fence around a piece of land and declare it his own founded civil society—and doomed mankind to millennia of war and famine. The dawn of modern civilization, argues Jean-Jacques Rousseau in this essential treatise on human nature, was also the beginning of inequality. One of the great thinkers of the Enlightenment, Rousseau based his work in compassion for his fellow man. The great crime of despotism, he believed, was the raising of the cruel above the weak. In this landmark text, he spells out the antidote for man’s ills: a compassionate revolution to pull up the fences and restore the balance of mankind. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.