When and where was Jean-Jacques Rousseau born?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on the 28th of June 1712 in the Republic of Geneva. He was born into a family where his mother died of puerperal fever nine days after his birth.
Common questions about Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What major works did Jean-Jacques Rousseau publish in the 1750s?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau won the first prize of an essay competition in 1750 with his Discourse on the Arts and Sciences. He completed his second major work, the Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men, in 1755.
What happened during the dispute between Jean-Jacques Rousseau and David Hume?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau accepted an invitation from David Hume to go to England in 1766 but the relationship deteriorated into a public quarrel. The dispute involved a hoax letter published in a daily newspaper and accusations that Hume tampered with Rousseau's mail.
How did Jean-Jacques Rousseau die and when was he buried?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau died of cerebral bleeding resulting in an apoplectic stroke on the 1st of July 1778. He was buried on the 4th of July 1778 on the Île des Peupliers in a lake at Ermenonville.
What was the significance of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's book The Social Contract?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau published The Social Contract in 1762 to outline the basis for a legitimate political order within a framework of classical republicanism. The book argued that individuals could preserve themselves and remain free by submitting to the authority of the general will of the people.