Rousseau: The Discourses and Other Early Political Writings

The new edition of this comprehensive and authoritative anthology of Rousseau's important early political writings in faithful English translations.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Author), Victor Gourevitch (Edited by)

9781316605547, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 8 November 2018

516 pages
21.5 x 13.8 x 2.4 cm, 0.71 kg

A comprehensive and authoritative anthology of Rousseau's important early political writings in faithful English translations. This volume includes the Discourse on the Sciences and Arts and the Discourse on the Origin and the Foundations of Inequality among Men - the so-called First and Second Discourses - together with Rousseau's extensive Replies to critics of these Discourses; the Essay on the Origin of Languages; the Letter to Voltaire on Providence; as well as several minor but illuminating writings - the Discourse on Heroic Virtue and the essay Idea of the Method in the Composition of a Book. In these as well as in his later writings, Rousseau probes the very premises of modern thought. His influence was wide-reaching from the very first, and it has continued to grow since his death. The American and the French Revolutions were profoundly affected by his thought, as were Romanticism and Idealism. This new edition features up-to-date translations, an expanded introduction, and an extensive editorial apparatus designed to assist students at every level access these seminal texts.

Preface
Introduction
Chronology of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
A brief guide to further reading
A note on the texts
A note on the translations
A note on the editorial notes and index
Discourse on the Sciences and Arts or First Discourse
Preface
Part I
Part II
Replies to Critics
Letter to M. l'Abbé Raynal
Observations [to Stanislas, King of Poland]
Letter to Grimm
Last Reply
Letter about a New Refutation
Preface to Narcissus
Preface of a Second Letter to Bordes
Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men or Second Discourse
Epistle Dedicatory
Preface
Exordium
Part I
Part II
Rousseau's notes
Replies to critics
Letter to Philopolis
Reply to Charles-Georges Le Roy
Letter to Voltaire
Essay on the Origin of Languages
Idea of the method in the composition of a book
Discourse on the Virtue a Hero Most Needs or On Heroic Virtue
List of abbreviations and textual conventions
Editorial notes
Index of editors, translators, and annotators
General index.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], History of ideas [JFCX], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH]