In Rousseau's Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, human nature is established as the fundamentals of society. Human nature is shown to be necessary in regards to authenticity and virtue through simplistic activities. When writing this piece, Rousseau painted a thought of nature having intentions for mankind and the model of virtue shaped from it.
Immediately, in the beginning of the book, unnatural artistic and scientific hobbies are denounced by Rousseau. Currently, in a time of the Enlightenment era, modern society began to move away from the “savageness” of the former way of civilization and toward more cultured, “sophisticated” ideals. According to Rousseau, conforming to these ideals, meant feigning one’s true identity in order to partake in“the appearance of all the virtues without having any. . . [however] a good man is an athlete that enjoys competing in the nude,” (Rousseau p6-7). This referred to the ancient Greeks, who always revealed their natural characters rather than …show more content…
The new technology affected our style of living. Rather than being proactive and self-entertaining, laziness and idleness formed. Pursuing tasks would become a challenge. Yet, Nature protected us from such corruption. In the Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, it’s stated “nature wanted to protect [humans] from science just as a mother wrests a dangerous weapon from the hands of her child” (Rousseau 13). The products of the Enlightenment -- luxuries, science, art, etc.-- serve as dangerous technology that shouldn’t have been introduced to man. When faced with challenges on the search for enlightenment, or knowledge, on aspects that are naturally unknown to man, that is a sign from nature. It’s Nature’s duty to protect man and warn human beings of potential dangers that may arise. Yet, when given these warnings during this start of the Enlightenment, man simply ignored
Immediately, in the beginning of the book, unnatural artistic and scientific hobbies are denounced by Rousseau. Currently, in a time of the Enlightenment era, modern society began to move away from the “savageness” of the former way of civilization and toward more cultured, “sophisticated” ideals. According to Rousseau, conforming to these ideals, meant feigning one’s true identity in order to partake in“the appearance of all the virtues without having any. . . [however] a good man is an athlete that enjoys competing in the nude,” (Rousseau p6-7). This referred to the ancient Greeks, who always revealed their natural characters rather than …show more content…
The new technology affected our style of living. Rather than being proactive and self-entertaining, laziness and idleness formed. Pursuing tasks would become a challenge. Yet, Nature protected us from such corruption. In the Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, it’s stated “nature wanted to protect [humans] from science just as a mother wrests a dangerous weapon from the hands of her child” (Rousseau 13). The products of the Enlightenment -- luxuries, science, art, etc.-- serve as dangerous technology that shouldn’t have been introduced to man. When faced with challenges on the search for enlightenment, or knowledge, on aspects that are naturally unknown to man, that is a sign from nature. It’s Nature’s duty to protect man and warn human beings of potential dangers that may arise. Yet, when given these warnings during this start of the Enlightenment, man simply ignored