Thoughts on Jean-Jacques Rousseau? Where should one start

>>9297709
proto-fascist consumed by middle class fantasies of agrarian utopia

One of the most interesting and important intellectuals ever. Too bad all of his ideas were wrong.

start with Discourse on the Origin of Inequality

He has some good non-political writings

Start with The Reveries of a Solitary Walker.

>>9297709
>2000 + 17
>being a dirty statist
no thanks.

>>9297719
He was a proto-socialist though.

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1000KB, 1000x756px

Wholeheartedly believed in vampires, so imbecile.

>>9299185
Witches were still hanged during his lifetime.

>>9299177
proto-totalitarian

>>9297709
Among the most important political philosophers ever. He has a great take on human nature and social stratification. Start with the Discourse on Inequality, and then read the Social Contract. After that, I recommend Emile and the Reveries of the Solitary Walker, but anything he has written is good.

>>9297709
By throwing this piece of shit in the garbage, where it belongs.

First discourse (on arts and sciences) + Letter to D'Alembert : these two are the best start, they're both very easy and original and thought-provoking.
The Reveries can be a good start too, decently interesting, half-literature and half-philosophy, good read for holidays. I especially like the part when Rousseau explains why botanics is the best science.

Second Discourse (on inequality) : that's harder to read already. Important stuff and interesting but, while being significantly longer than the first discourse, it's not very organized. Just two long parts. And some essential ideas are to be found in footnotes. I think it makes it a little bit annoying to read.

Social Contract + Emile : masterpieces. The first book of the Social Contract needs to be studied, not only read. Regarding Emile, if it was only about education, it would be of little interest, but it's actually about everything. It even contains a few pages literally copied from the Social Contract. A great philosophy book despite it undertitle.

>>9299912
nice buzzword