Rousseau

Description

Timothy O'Hagan investigates Jean-Jacques Rousseau's writings concerning the formation of humanity, of the individual and of the citizen in his three master works: the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality among Men, Emile and the Social Contract. He explores Rousseau's reflections on the sexes, language and religion.

O'Hagan gives Rousseau's arguments a close and sympathetic reading. He writes as a philosopher, not a historian, yet he never loses sight of the cultural context of Rousseau's work.

Reviews

"This book is an excellent account of Rousseau: accurate, very wide ranging… and moreover providing without heaviness or pedantry an account of major recent approaches to Rousseau… This is a very fine book indeed." - Marian Hobson, Mind

Contents

Introduction. Rousseau: the life and work, 1. Rousseau's divided thought: the morality of the senses and the morality of duty 2. The Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Among Men 3. The Emile Part 4 The Social Contract: principles of right 5. The empire of the laws: the general will and totalitarianism 6. The Social Contract: maxims of politics 7. Amour-propre 8. Men and Women 9. Language 10. Religion and politics 11. Negative theology: revealed relgion criticized 12. Postitive theology: natural religion defended. Concluding reflections.

Author Bio

Timothy O'Hagan teaches philosophy at the University of East Anglia. He is the author of The End of Law?.

Related Subjects

1. Modern Philosophy (16th Century-18th Century)
2. Political Philosophy
3. Moral Theory