Jean-Jacques Rousseau

'No one can write a man's life except himself.' In his Confessions Jean-Jacques Rousseau tells the story of his life, from the formative experience of his humble childhood in Geneva, through the achievement of international fame as novelist and philosopher in Paris, to his wanderings as an exile, persecuted by governments and alienated from the world of modern civilization. In trying to explain who he was and how he came to be the object of others' admiration and abuse, Rousseau analyses with unique insight the relationship between an elusive but essential inner self and the variety of social identities he was led to adopt. The book vividly illustrates the mixture of moods and motives that underlie the writing of autobiography: defiance and vulnerability, self-exploration and denial, passion, puzzlement, and detachment. Above all, Confessions is Rousseau's search, through every resource of language, to convey what he despairs of putting into words: the personal quality of one's own existence. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

"Man was born free, but everywhere he is in chains. This man believes that he is the master of others, and still he is more of a slave than they are. How did that transformation take place? I don't know. How may the restraints on man become legitimate? I do believe I can answer that question ..." Thus begins Rousseau's influential 1762 work, Du Contract Social. Arguing that all government is fundamentally flawed, and that modern society is based on a system that fosters inequality and servitude, Rousseau demands nothing less than a complete revision of the social contract to ensure equality and freedom. Noting that government derives its authority by the people's willing consent (rather than the authorization of God), Rousseau posits that a good government can justify its need for individual compromises, rewarding its citizens with "civil liberty and the proprietorship of all he possesses." The controversial philosopher further suggests that promoting social settings in which people transcend their immediate appetites and desires lead to the development of self-governing, self-disciplined beings. A milestone of political science, these essays introduced the inflammatory ideas that led to the chaos of the French Revolution, and are considered essential reading for students of history, philosophy, and other social sciences.

Tittelen på boken henviser til den berømte kjærlighetshistorien og brevvekslingen mellom Abélard og Héloïse, en lidenskap som overlevde mannens kastraksjon og begges klosterliv og adskillelse. Og fra den fromme adelsfrøken Julie forføres av sin uadelige huslærer Saint-Preux svinger kjærligheten gjennom hundrevis av brev fra erotisk tilståelse og frihet til moralske skrupler og sosiale konvensjoner og hindringer. En rekke personer trekkes inn og rundt mønstergodset Clarens ved foten av Alpene og forfatteren får god anledning til å flette inn sine oppfatninger om tiden, religionen, samfunnet og alle tenkelige sosiale anliggender og forhold.

Tittelen på boken henviser til den berømte kjærlighetshistorien og brevvekslingen mellom Abélard og Héloïse, en lidenskap som overlevde mannens kastraksjon og begges klosterliv og adskillelse. Og fra den fromme adelsfrøken Julie forføres av sin uadelige huslærer Saint-Preux svinger kjærligheten gjennom hundrevis av brev fra erotisk tilståelse og frihet til moralske skrupler og sosiale konvensjoner og hindringer. En rekke personer trekkes inn og rundt mønstergodset Clarens ved foten av Alpene og forfatteren får god anledning til å flette inn sine oppfatninger om tiden, religionen, samfunnet og alle tenkelige sosiale anliggender og forhold.

The perfect books for the true book lover, Penguin's Great Ideas series features twelve more groundbreaking works by some of history's most prodigious thinkers. Each volume is beautifully packaged with a unique type-driven design that highlights the bookmaker's art. Offering great literature in great packages at great prices, this series is ideal for those readers who want to explore and savor the Great Ideas that have shaped our world. Rousseau's explosive cry for human liberty helped to spark the French Revolution and has haunted our discussions of how we should rule one another ever since seen as both a blueprint for political terror and as a fundamental statement of democracy. "

Jean-Jacques Rousseau writes, "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains." This statement exemplifies the main idea behind "The Social Contract", in other words that man is essentially free if it weren't for the oppression of political organizations such as government. Rousseau goes on to lay forth the principles that he deems most important for achieving political right amongst people. Contained within this volume are also two discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In "A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality" Rousseau examines the causes of the inequalities that exist among men concluding that it is the natural result of the formation of any civilization. In "A Discourse on Political Economy" Rousseau examines the nature of politics and their effect on people. These three works lay a solid foundation for the political philosophy of Rousseau and are a must read for any student of political science or philosophy.