Need for virtue, History

Assignment Help:

Rousseau and the need for Virtue

If Voltaire was the prime example of an Enlightenment philosophe who promoted reason as the essential characteristic of human beings, the other tradition of Enlightenment thought which emphasized virtue was embodied by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Rousseau was born in the city of Geneva, which meant he was a Calvinist and a citizen of a republic. He was, like Diderot, the son of a watchmaker, who educated Jean-Jacques informally but intensely. As a teenager, the young Rousseau left for Paris, converting to Catholicism along the way. He was very interested in the Enlightenment, but concerned that its emphasis on reason as the source of all useful knowledge was misguided.

In 1750 he became well known for an essay in which he argued that despite what the philosophes said practical knowledge did not contributed to morality at all; instead it had corrupted people's morals in Europe, because it had encouraged people to become reliant on others rather than producing all they need for themselves. He considered such a situation to be unnatural, because it inevitably led to inequality (moral, political and economic) among people.

 


Related Discussions:- Need for virtue

European settlement or the founding of the united states, The United States...

The United States was united in name only." What does this mean? Can you make a connection with the statement for the history that precedes European settlement or the founding of t

What did the social gospel movement, What did the social gospel movement of...

What did the social gospel movement of the late ninettenth century advocate? A) Social gospel activities argue that charity begins at home B) It called for corporate funds to bu

In your opinion, Supporters of "term limits" state that it prevents incumbe...

Supporters of "term limits" state that it prevents incumbents from hogging their seats and they help inject "new blood" into government. An opposing viewpoint is that this reduces

Explain the purpose of opinions of the supreme court, Explain the purpose o...

Explain the purpose of opinions of the Supreme Court and clarify the difference between a dissenting opinion and a concurring opinion.

Show four causes of the civil war, Discuses 4 causes of the civil war and i...

Discuses 4 causes of the civil war and identify several factors that contributed to the union victory

U.s would lose the vietnam war, What are three ways we knew the U.S would l...

What are three ways we knew the U.S would lose the Vietnam War before it started?

Ups and downs of our unemployment rate and recession, Do you think it is po...

Do you think it is possible that another great depression could happen? Given the ups and downs of our unemployment rate and recession, do you see this as a possibility?

Exploitation of workers, Could industrialization have happened without the ...

Could industrialization have happened without the exploitation of workers?

Discuss three common features of the french, Identify and discuss three com...

Identify and discuss three common features of the French, Russian (Bolshevik), and Iranian revolutions.

Role of the political machines, Compare the role of the political machines ...

Compare the role of the political machines and the social reformers in dealing with the new urban environment of the late nineteenth century. Which group was more successful?

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd