Photos of Rousseau, Jean Jacques
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (June 28, 1712 July 2, 1778) was a Franco-Swiss philosopher, writer, political theorist, and self-taught composer of The Age of Enlightenment. Rousseau's political ideas influenced the French Revolution, the development of socialist theory, and the growth of nationalism. His legacy as a radical and revolutionary is perhaps best demonstrated by his most famous line, from his most important work, The Social Contract: "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."[1] (For Rousseau's conception of revolution see Du Contrat Social, Book II, Chapter 8. Given that he considers revolution "dangerous and vain", one must question the legitimacy of calling Rousseau a revolutionary.)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Painted portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The tomb of Rousseau in the crypt of the Panth?©on, Paris
Portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau by Allan Ramsay, 1766
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Painted portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The tomb of Rousseau in the crypt of the Panthéon, Paris
Portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau by Allan Ramsay, 1766
