Life introduction of Rousseau:

 Rousseau's name is one of the most important among naturalists Rousseau was born in 1712 AD in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. He was born in a poor family. Rousseau's full name was Jean Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau was raised by his aunt due to mother's death 9 days after Rousseau's birth. Rousseau strayed due to the father's lack of adequate attention and aunt's negligence. Rousseau received his early education from his father.

 When Rousseau was sent to school, the artificial environment, rigorous discipline and punishment system created a dislike for education and school in Rousseau's mind. With which Rousseau stopped going to school. Rousseau wanted to study but did not go to school for fear of beating. Rousseau lived to the age of 10 years, reading books at home and observing natural scenes. Rousseau went to work with a craftsman at the age of 12, but Rousseau could not adjust there. Rousseau became nomadic, touring the beautiful state of France in 'Savoy' and northerm Italy in the early teens.

 He also spent some time in Paris. Rousseau lived a nomadic life until the age of 21. During this time he also had to face punishment on false charges, which caused him immense pain and suffering. For all these reasons, Rousseau kept getting away from the society. But once again, Rousseau went to France and started reading literature at the age of 25. In France, Rousseau read texts of Plato, Thomas Hobbes, john Locke, Montesquieu, Fenelon, Machiavelli, Voltaire, Descartes and Newton, etc., which had a strong influence on Rousseau. With which he started thinking about becoming a teacher and writer.

 In 1749, he passed through the town of 'Dijon' while traveling, taking part in an essay competition organized the next day by the Academy on Dijon and wrote poignant articles on the subject "Has the Restoration of the art and Sciences contributed to the Purification of Morals". Which received the first prize. Which led Rousseau to writing.

 In the middle of 1752, France was ruled by Louis XIV, who was fond of luxury, the poor and the lower classes were being exploited all around Rousseau was deeply saddened by the exploitation of the public. Rousseau opposed 'Louis Fifteenth' and also wrote several articles in protest. He wrote a book called Emile in 1762, this book were banned as anti-religion and copies of it were burnt. Rousseau shocked after this, left France and went to England.


 After some time Rousseau returned and married his maid Therese Levasseur'. Rousseau's last time was spent in extreme anxiety, tension, humiliation, fear. Rousseau's last life was more painful than the inital life. He died in 1778 at the age of 66. The phase of Rousseau's neglect ended with the French Revolution in 1789. And Rousseau had the distinction of being a great philosopher, thinker and revolutionary on the occasion of the state revolution of France.

 Rousseau's naturalist view is his personal experience, Rousseau had a desire to study but did not attend school due to the adverse school environment. For this reason, Rousseau began to consider the school as unnecessary and stressed on getting education by staying in nature.


Major works by Rousseau:

  • The progress of Art and Science, 1950,
  • Social Inequality, 1754,
  • Discourse on Political Economy, 1755,
  • The New Helise, 1761,
  • The Social Contract, 1762,
  • Emile, or On Education, 1762,
  • Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau, 1770,
  • Consideration on the government of poland, 1773.


 The great creations of Rousseau are considered 'Social Contracts' and 'Emile'.


Social Contract - Rousseau has expressed social and political views in the social Contract. In this book, he emphasized the superiority of democracy over monarchy and oligarchy. These ideas of Rousseau gave rise to the French Revolution in 1789. That is why Rousseau is considere to be the pioneer, motivator of french revolution and father of democracy.


Emile - This is the great book of Rousseau. This book is considere scholarly research related to education. Rousseau's educational ideas are found in his famous book 'Emile'. This book is written in a novel style. In this book Rousseau has written in detail on the meaning, purpose curriculum, teaching methods, discipline and co-education of education There are five chapters in this book, out of which four children describes the education of 'Emile's' childhood, adolescent and adult age. Emiles actually a fictional child, whose full details of education and initiation are found in this book. The fifth chapter describes the education of Sophie, Sophie is Emile's future wife.


Emile is kept in isolation from society by the ideal teacher by Rousseau, who nurtures him in the picturesque lap of nature. He does not go to school for education, but receives education in the lap of nature and earns knowledge. Thus, in practical terms it reflects the perfection of education according to nature.


Emile was educated in the lap of nature, away from the environment of the society and the school, according to natural rules and its development was left to nature. From which Emile began to grow naturally, this is Rousseau's Naturalism. It was here that he gave the slogan "Return to Nature".


It is an important book in the field of education, but the French government at that time considered anti-religious. Initially there was strong opposition to this book. This book was banned in France and Switzerland Rousseau left France to go to England in 1766 to escape police and punishment. He returned to France in 1777 and this great philosopher died in 1778.