Front cover image for The political philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau : the impossibility of reason

The political philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau : the impossibility of reason

This exciting new book presents the first overview of Jean Jacques Rousseau's work from a political science perspective. Was Rousseau - the great theorist of the French Revolution - really a conservative? This original study argues that the author of The Social Contract was a constitutionalist much closer to Madison, Montesquieu and Locke than to revolutionaries. Outlining his profound opposition to Godless materialism and revolutionary change, this book finds parallels between Rousseau and Burke, as well as showing that Rousseau developed the first modern theory of nationalism. The book presents an integrated political analysis of Rousseau's educational, ethical, religious and political writings, and will be essential reading for students of politics, philosophy and the history of ideas
eBook, English, 2003
Manchester University Press, Manchester, 2003
History
1 online resource
1014461339
Introduction and method; 1 The politics of the soul: the life and times of Jean-Jacques Rousseau; 2 The disenchantment of the world; 3 Checks, balances and popular participation: Rousseau as a constitutionalist; 4 A civic profession of faith: Rousseau's and nationalism; 5 The last of the ancients the first of the moderns?; 6 Epilogue: in the beginning was song; Chronology of Rousseau's life (1712-78)
www.dawsonera.com View this book online, via DawsonERA, both on- and off-campus
lib.leeds.ac.uk This title is also available in print. Click here.