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[[Image:T768.jpg|right|thumb|Jean Jacques Rousseau]]

[[Image:T768.jpg|right|thumb|Jean Jacques Rousseau]]

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.  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 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]] social theorist and a leading [[Enlightenment]] thinker.  He argued that political and moral discourses could not be separated, and that the will of the majority was not always correct. However, Rousseau also critiqued the legitimacy of [[private property]], and laid the groundwork for future political/social theorists such as [[Karl Marx]].  Rousseau declared that government's goal should be to provide freedom, equality and justice but noted 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.

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 developed the concept of the "[[social contract]]" established by [[Thomas Hobbes]] and [[John Locke]].  Rousseau disapproved of categorical distinctions between social groups. He argued that a liberal conception of human equality should be the basis for human relationships.

Rousseau vehemently detested [[Catholicism]] along with other institutionalized as well as private forms of [[Christianity]], believing that mankind would be better off with his idea of a civil religion wedded to the state<ref> [http://books.google.com/books?id=IPZa0_Qx0koC&pg=PA16&dq=%22civil+religion%22+rousseau#PPA17,M1 ''Religion as a Public Good''], Alan Mittleman, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003

Rousseau was critical of [[Catholicism]] along with other institutionalized forms of [[Christianity]], believing that mankind would be better off with his idea of a civil religion wedded to the state<ref> [http://books.google.com/books?id=IPZa0_Qx0koC&pg=PA16&dq=%22civil+religion%22+rousseau#PPA17,M1 ''Religion as a Public Good''], Alan Mittleman, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003

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>.

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