Rousseau, Jean Jacques (1712-1778) Swiss-born, French philosopher and
author regarded as the father of French romanticism. Some of Rousseau's
greatest contributions to philosophy were his thoughts on individualism
and rebellion against the established political order.
Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences (1750)
In this discourse, Rousseau provides his own idiosyncratic answer
to the question: "Has the restoration of the arts and sciences had
a purifying effect on morals?" Rousseau replies in the negative.
He argues that the arts and sciences have engendered a loss of
common sense and, by creating artificial desires in us, they have
not only taken us from our natural state, but have also resulted in
a lessening of our human freedom.
