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Jean-Jacques Rousseau: The Age Of Reason

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Thursday, June 28th, 1712 a great philosopher was born who would change the face of government as we know it, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. At the age of 15 Rousseau ran away from home and ended up roaming France. Rousseau ending up living with Francoise-Louise de Warens with whom he had a very intimate relationship with and fell in “love” with. During this time Rousseau began to study music, math and philosophy. Rousseau moved to Paris at age 30 where he met Therese Levasseur. Therese lived with him and gave him five children which he convinced Therese, for the sake of her honor and their money situation, to give up each child to a hospital. In Rousseau 's book of confessions he admitted those were not the true reasons he abandoned his children which shows his true character. While living in France Rousseau lived under the Monarchy of King Louis XV, whos deterioration of the royal throne helped the French Revolution to start. Rousseau became one of the most important writers of the Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment period, despite his personal character. The Enlightenment period was the prime time that people truly started questioning their traditional way of life …show more content…

Most people in any society will have their best interests at heart and take advantage of the protection they have by being in a community. The problem with the sovereign, as Rousseau states, is that the sovereign will look out for the best interests of all its inhabitants, not necessarily for the general will. General will, to Rousseau, means the common good of all

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