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Swiss-born political [[philosopher]] '''Jean Jacques Rousseau''' (1712-1778) was an influential French essayist, prominent [[liberal]] and [[socialist]] social theorist and a leading [[Enlightenment]] thinker. As such, he was also considered to be the father of the modern left-wing.  He argued that [[politics]] and [[morality]] could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. However, Rousseau also attacked [[private property]], and laid the groundwork for the [[French Revolution]] and [[Reign of Terror]], and by extension, laid the groundwork for future [[communist]] writers such as [[Karl Marx]].  Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice. But note that freedom often results in inequality.

Swiss-born political [[philosopher]] '''Jean Jacques Rousseau''' (1712-1778) was an influential French essayist, prominent [[liberal]] and [[socialist]] social theorist and a leading [[Enlightenment]] thinker. As such, he was also considered to be the father of the modern left-wing.  He argued that [[politics]] and [[morality]] could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. However, Rousseau also attacked [[private property]], and laid the groundwork for the [[French Revolution]] and [[Reign of Terror]], and by extension, laid the groundwork for future [[communist]] writers such as [[Karl Marx]].  Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice. But note that freedom often results in inequality.

Rousseau's most famous work was ''The Social Contract'' (1762), which supported a direct [[democracy]] based on a "general will" rather than [[republicanism]] such as that adopted 25 years later by the [[U.S. Constitution]].  In it, he further develops the concept of the "[[social contract]]" established by [[Thomas Hobbes]] and [[John Locke]].  Rousseau disapproved of titles like nobility, and demanded complete equality between all people. He also was a [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalist]], believing that people did not need God or the Church for morality, and just needed to look into nature for it.

Rousseau's most famous work was ''The Social Contract'' (1762), which supported a direct [[democracy]] based on a "general will" rather than [[republicanism]] such as that adopted 25 years later by the [[U.S. Constitution]].  In it, he further develops the concept of the "[[social contract]]" established by [[Thomas Hobbes]] and [[John Locke]].  Rousseau disapproved of titles like nobility, and demanded complete equality between all people. He also was a [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalist]], believing that people did not need God or the Church for morality, and just needed to look into nature for it.

ISBN 0742531252, 9780742531253, 336 pages, pp. 16-17</ref> He also believed that the society had a duty toward the poor, to care for them, and to look after them, but interestingly he dumped all 19 of his own illegitimate children in charitable institutions, some of them Roman Catholic and expected them to take care of them.

ISBN 0742531252, 9780742531253, 336 pages, pp. 16-17</ref> He also believed that the society had a duty toward the poor, to care for them, and to look after them, but interestingly he dumped all 19 of his own illegitimate children in charitable institutions, some of them Roman Catholic and expected them to take care of them.

Aside from his work of ''The Social Contract'' as well as his role in supplying a blueprint for the French Revolution and Reign of Terror, he was also responsible for several of the aspects of modern education, including especially early childhood education, via his work ''Emile: or On Education''.

Aside from his work of ''The Social Contract'' as well as his role in supplying a blueprint for the French Revolution and Reign of Terror, he was also responsible for several of the aspects of modern education, including especially early childhood education, via his work ''Emile: or On Education''.

==Notes and references==

==Notes and references==

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==See also==

==See also==

*[[Humanism#Secular Humanism|Secular Humanism]]

*[[Humanism#Secular Humanism|Secular Humanism]]

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