Product Description

In this superb introduction, Nicholas Dent covers the whole of Rousseau's thought. Beginning with a helpful overview of Rousseau's life and works, he introduces and assesses Rousseau's central ideas and arguments.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #547403 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

Publisher
'The best general introduction to Rousseau’s life and thought in English.' Christopher Bertram, University of Bristol

Review
'An intelligent and clearly written introduction ... It will be of great use to beginners who wish to orient themselves in the corpus of a writer who produced a large number of works of great diversity. It provides all the essential background information ... those familiar with Rousseau will also read it with profit.' - Christopher Kelly, Boston College

'This is a very fine piece of work indeed. In fact, I think it is the best general introduction to Rousseau's life and thought in English and succeeds brilliantly in conveying Rousseau's ideas in a sympathetic yet critical manner. The work is well paced and accessible to the person who knows nothing about Rousseau but wants to find out, whilst still managing to be stimulating to the specialist. I would be very happy to recommend this work to students and to others.' - Chris Bertram, University of Bristol







'An intelligent and clearly written introduction ... It will be of great use to beginners who wish to orient themselves in the corpus of a writer who produced a large number of works of great diversity. It provides all the essential background information ... those familiar with Rousseau will also read it with profit.' - Christopher Kelly, Boston College

'This is a very fine piece of work indeed. In fact, I think it is the best general introduction to Rousseau's life and thought in English and succeeds brilliantly in conveying Rousseau's ideas in a sympathetic yet critical manner. The work is well paced and accessible to the person who knows nothing about Rousseau but wants to find out, whilst still managing to be stimulating to the specialist. I would be very happy to recommend this work to students and to others.' - Chris Bertram, University of Bristol

From the Back Cover
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) is one of the best-known figures of the French Enlightenment and a central figure in Eighteenth century philosophy. His influential theories of the social contract, inequality, liberty and education make him one of the most famous political philosophers of all time.

In this superb introduction, Nicholas Dent covers the whole of Rousseau's thought. Beginning with a helpful overview of Rousseau's life and works, he introduces and assesses Rousseau's central ideas and arguments. These include the corruption of modern civilization, the state of nature, his famous theories of amour de soi and amour propre; and education and his famous work Emile. He gives particular attention to Rousseau's theories of democracy and freedom found in his most celebrated work, The Social Contract, and explains what Rousseau meant by the 'general will'.

Nicholas Dent also covers Rousseau's celebrated biographical works, including The Confessions and Reveries of the Solitary Walker, essential to understanding Rousseau's work as a whole. The final chapter considers Rousseau's legacy and examines the way his thought influenced later philosophers such as Kant, Hegel and Marx and played an important role in shaping the Romantic movement and the French Revolution.

Rousseau is an invaluable introduction to this inspiring philosopher and essential reading for anyone studying his ideas and arguments for the first time.

Customer Reviews

Mmm interesting...
This is by all means an interesting introduction. It is well written and easy to read. Now I don't know if it is my own bias towards Rousseau (and I AM biassed), or if the introduction is not in-depth enough, but Dent's book left me unconvinced about Rousseau's philosophical and political works.

Nevertheless, Dent's presentation of Rousseau's literary works is actually quite good and made me want to re-read The Confessions, and the Ten Walks which, once put into the context of Rousseau's life and thought, take on a value which I had not suspected in my school years.

Worth reading anyway, it won't take you much time so it's worth having a go at it.