Comparing Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life And Accomplishments

Jean Jacques Rousseau was born on June 28th, 1712, to Isaac Rousseau and Suzanne Bernard in Geneva, Switzerland. He grew up mainly with his father, as his only brother had run away while he was still a child, and his mother passed away days after his birth. From an early age his father educated him with ancient Greek and Roman literature. After years passed, Isaac had an argument with a French captain and had to flee Geneva permanently at the risk of imprisonment. At that point Rousseau went to live with his uncle, and he sent Rousseau and his cousin to study in the village of Bossey. He was apprenticed to an engraver and began to learn the trade. However, in his teens “petty thefts and other breaches of discipline earned for Rousseau, a series of beatings which in no way altered his recalcitrant behaviour but which augmented his hatred of authority.” (Jean-Jacques Rousseau Biography 2016). After three years of confrontations at age 16 he left Bossey. He went to Annecy, France, and was introduced to …show more content…
During his time in Paris, in 1750 there was an essay competition held by the academy of Dijon, and he sought the opportunity to take part. The topic of the was “Has the restoration of the arts and sciences contributed to the purifications of the morals.” (“Rousseau” 2014.) and this essay earned him considerable fame. In this essay, titled, “Discourse on the Arts and Sciences”, he argued that the progression of art and science had not benefited mankind, but rather the result of pride and vanity. He suggested that the advancement of knowledge made governments more powerful and crushed individual liberty. Their days of weaknesses were also their days of strength. Overall he believed that “Education is a necessary evil.” (“Rousseau” 2014). However, he won first prize in this essay