Jean Jacques Rousseau

1. Jean Jacques Rousseau By: Keenan, Conlin, and Mika

2. Biography • Parents: Issac Rousseau, Suzanne Bernard Rousseau • Nationality: Swiss • Born: June 28 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland • Died: July 2 1778 • Cause of death: Bleeding • Interests: Political Philosophy, music, education, Literature and autobiography • French And Swiss backgrounds

3. Upbringings • He came from a poor and unhappy family. He always felt out of place when he moved to Paris, especially among other sophisticated intellectuals. • Rousseau constantly complained and criticized others. Although his political and social ideas were an important part of Enlightenment thought. • Rousseau believed that human nature is good, and that it is society that corrupted people • “Man is born free, and everywhere is in chains” he wrote, in his book, ‘The Social Contract’ • Jean Jacque believed that al people were equal and that ranks and nobility should be abolished • In his book, “The Social Contract”, Rousseau described an ideal society where -people would gather into a community, and form a contract instead of confiding in a ruler -The community would vote on all decisions (which were decided by the majority)

4. Some Of His Major Works • The Social Contract • Confessions • Discourse of inequality • Emilie • Reveries of a Solitary

5. Bonus Facts • He might have been a Pedophile  • He was a vegetarian • He fell in love with Madam De Warens (who he first apprenticed for) • He later ran away (at age 15) because she had multiple other lovers

6. Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau • http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rousseau/ • http://www.biography.com/people/jean-jacques-rousseau-9465453 • http://www.online-literature.com/rousseau/ • http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/socialcontract/