The Legacy of Rousseau

Book Overview

Few thinkers have enjoyed so pervasive an influence as Rousseau, who originated dissatisfaction with modernity. By exploring polarities articulated by Rousseau-nature versus society, self versus other, community versus individual, and compassion versus competitiveness-these fourteen original essays show how his thought continues to shape our ways of talking, feeling, thinking, and complaining.

The volume begins by taking up a central theme noted by the late Allan Bloom-Rousseau's critique of the bourgeois as the dominant modern human type and as a being fundamentally in contradiction, caught between the sentiments of nature and the demands of society. It then turns to Rousseau's crucial polarity of nature and society and to the later conceptions of history and culture it gave rise to. The third part surveys Rousseau's legacy in both domestic and international politics. Finally, the book examines Rousseau's contributions to the virtues that have become central to the current sensibility: community, sincerity, and compassion.

Contributors include Allan Bloom, Fran ois Furet, Pierre Hassner, Christopher Kelly, Roger Masters, and Arthur Melzer.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226638561
• ISBN13: 9780226638560
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 345 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Examining Rousseau's Importance for Our Time

I thoroughly enjoyed The Legacy of Rousseau because of the insight it gave me into the significance of Rousseau's thought for our current culture. This book clearly demonstrates that Rousseau, writing in the 18th century, nevertheless anticipated many of the problems of contemporary society: the tension between individualism and community; the role of art in society; and the problem of hypocrisy in social and political life (to list but a few). As one of the great minds of all time, moreover, his attempt to solve these problems merits serious consideration. Here the Legacy of Rousseau is an excellent resource for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of Rousseau's thought and its relevance for today. The book is comprised of articles by various experts on Rousseau, including such noted scholars as Allan Bloom, Christopher Kelly, and Roger D. Masters. These experts explore diverse aspects of Rousseau's thought, from his take on the problem of the bourgeois (the middle class) to his explanation of human nature and the origins of inequality amongst people. I enjoyed these different perspectives, because they increased my understanding of both Rousseau and of contemporary culture. The various ideas found in this book are tied together by a central, unifying theme; namely: the tension between society and nature. After reading this book, I found myself seriously contemplating human nature; whether or not human beings are naturally good; and the influence of society on our way of living. In terms of chapters, I especially recommend Chapter 1 (Werner J. Dannhauser's "The Problem of the Bourgeois") and Chapter 13 (Arthur J. Melzer's "Rousseau and the Modern Cult of Sincerity"). These articles, and many others in this book, should be interesting to anyone concerned with the present state of society. I highly recommend this book, and I think it to be an invaluable resource for students of Rousseau, as well as for socially and politically conscious thinkers from all walks of life.