1. “One of the most influential thinkers during the enlightenment in 18 th century Europe”

2.  Born in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, 1712  Mother passed away shortly after birth  No formal education, taught by father until he was exiled when Rousseau was 10.  First job: apprentice to an engraver  Found work with a shopkeepers wife

3.  Left city at 16  Worked as a domestic servant in Turin; falsely accused another servant of theft- affected him deeply  Was a composer and a music theorist, pioneered the modern autobiography, wrote novels, and experimented in botany.  Major works: Discourse on the Origins of Inequality, The Discourse on Political Economy, The Social Contract, and Considerations on the Government of Poland

4.  GENERAL WILL  Believed people could govern themselves  Disagreed with Hobbesm- believed people were good by nature  His first philosophical work was A Discourse on the Sciences and Arts. In this work, he states that advancements in sciences and arts has corrupted virtues and morals of common people.

5.  Believed in a Democratic government  Thought they should be governed by the general will of the people; majority rule

6.  Social Contract - 1762 › State can be legitimate only if guided by its members. › By contributing their ideas, the people form their own government. › The people have to give up certain rights and freedoms to their government in return for protection and safety. › They agree to act for the general will of the people, doing what is best for society.

7.  Principle of general will proclaimed people should be governed by majority rather than monarchy  Individual thinking combined with salutary neglect and formed idea that colonies were better off without England

8.  “Jean Jacques Rousseau.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Psychology. Metaphysics Research Lab, CSLI, Stanford University. 27 Sep 2010. Web. 10 Oct 2012.Metaphysics Research LabCSLI Stanford University  “Jean Jacques Rousseau.” The History Guide. n.p. 4 Aug 2009. Web. 10 Oct 2012.  “Jean-Jacques Rousseau.” Internet Encyclopedia Philosophy. n.p. 21 Oct 2005. Web. 11 Oct 2012.  Delaney, James J. "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712—1778)." www.iep.utm.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012.. www.iep.utm.eduhttp://www.iep.utm.edu/rousseau/