The Confessions Of Jean Jacques Rousseau

This work is a frank treatment of Rousseau's sexual and intellectual development. It offers a model for the reflective life: the solitary, uncompromising individual; the enemy of servitude and habit; and the selfish egoist who dedicates himself to a particular ideal.

When it was first published in 1781, The Confessions scandalised Europe with its emotional honesty and frank treatment of the author's sexual and intellectual development. Since then, it has had a more profound impact on European thought. Rousseau left posterity a model of the reflective life - the solitary, uncompromising individual, the enemy of servitude and habit and the selfish egoist who dedicates his life to a particular ideal. The Confessions recreates the world in which he progressed from incompetent engraver to grand success; his enthusiasm for experience, his love of nature, and his uncompromising character make him an ideal guide to eighteenth-century Europe, and he was the author of some of the most profound work ever written on the relation between the individual and the state.

Step into the mind of one of history's most influential philosophers with "Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau himself. This timeless classic offers a fascinating glimpse into the innermost thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the renowned Enlightenment thinker. Join Jean-Jacques Rousseau as he bares his soul in this candid and introspective autobiography. Through the pages of "Confessions," Rousseau invites readers into his world, recounting his joys, sorrows, triumphs, and regrets with unparalleled honesty and depth. Rousseau's "Confessions" is more than just a memoir—it is a profound meditation on the human condition, society, and the nature of existence. From his tumultuous childhood to his struggles with love and identity, Rousseau's reflections offer profound insights into the complexities of life and the human psyche. As you delve into Rousseau's confessions, you'll find yourself captivated by his keen observations, philosophical musings, and poignant reflections on the world around him. Whether he's discussing the corrupting influence of society or the pursuit of personal freedom, Rousseau's words resonate with timeless relevance. But "Confessions" is not just a work of philosophy—it is a deeply personal narrative that reveals the inner workings of a brilliant yet troubled mind. Rousseau's candid revelations and unflinching self-examination make this autobiography a compelling and thought-provoking read for readers of all backgrounds. Whether you're a student of philosophy, a lover of literature, or simply someone seeking insight into the human condition, "Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau" offers a captivating journey into the heart and mind of one of history's most enigmatic figures. Pick up your copy today and discover the timeless wisdom of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

An introduction to Rousseau's Confessions.

Reproduction of the original: The Confessions of J.J. Rousseau by Jean Jacques Rousseau

The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Translated by W. Conyngham Mallory. The Confessions is an autobiographical book by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In modern times, it is often published with the title The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau in order to distinguish it from Saint Augustine's Confessions. Covering the first fifty-three years of Rousseau's life, up to 1765, it was completed in 1769, but not published until 1782, four years after Rousseau's death, even though Rousseau did read excerpts of his manuscript publicly at various salons and other meeting places.The Confessions was two distinct works, each part consisting of six books. Books I to VI were written between 1765 and 1767, and published in 1782; books VII to XII were written in 1769–1770, and published in 1789. Rousseau alludes to a planned third part, but this was never completed. Though the book contains factual inaccuracies — particularly, Rousseau's dates are frequently off, and some events are out of order — Rousseau provides an account of the experiences that shaped his personality and ideas. For instance, some parts of his own education are clearly present in his account of ideal education, Emile, or On Education.Rousseau's work is notable as one of the first major autobiographies. Prior to his writing the Confessions, the two great autobiographies were Augustine's own Confessions and Saint Teresa's Life of Herself. Both of these works, however, focused on the religious experiences of their authors. The Confessions was one of the first autobiographies in which an individual wrote of his own life mainly in terms of his worldly experiences and personal feelings. Rousseau recognized the unique nature of his work; it opens with the famous words: I have resolved on an enterprise which has no precedent and which, once complete, will have no imitator. My purpose is to display to my kind a portrait in every way true to nature, and the man I shall portray will be myself.Not long after publication, many other writers (such as Goethe, Wordsworth and De Quincey) wrote their own similarly-styled autobiographies; however, Leo Damrosch argues that Rousseau meant that it would be impossible to imitate his book, as nobody else would be like Jean-Jacques Rousseau.The Confessions is also noted for its detailed account of Rousseau's more humiliating and shameful moments. For instance, Rousseau recounts an incident when, while a servant, he covered up his theft of a ribbon by framing a young girl — who was working in the house — for the crime. In addition, Rousseau explains the manner in which he disposes of his five children, whom he had out of wedlock with Therese Levasseur. In spite of its path-breaking features, Confessions is understood by Rousseau researchers to be a widely inaccurate autobiography.

An exploration of the soul in the form of a final meditation on self-understanding and isolation.

Based on his doctrine of natural goodness, Rousseau intended the Confessions as a testing ground to explore his belief that, as Christopher Kelly writes, "people are to be measured by the depth and nature of their feelings." Re-created here in a meticulously documented new translation based on the definitive Pléiade edition, the work represents Rousseau's attempt to forge connections among his beliefs, his feelings, and his life. More than a "behind-the-scenes look at the private life of a public man," Kelly writes, "the Confessions is at the center of Rousseau's philosophical enterprise."