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A Reinterpretation of Rousseau“Everything Relates to that First Accusation”

A Reinterpretation of Rousseau: “Everything Relates to that First Accusation” [Beginning with a character named Rousseau expressing his scandal at Jean-Jacques, and ending with this same character and his dialogue partner promising their devoted presence at Jean-Jacques’ death, Rousseau Juge de Jean-Jacques: Dialogues encompasses and exemplifies the whole of Rousseau’s system.1 Composed of three dialogues, the drama, and not just the exposition, make this achievement possible.2 The Dialogues is a story of conversion.3 Put in the baldest terms, the interlocutors “Rousseau” and the “Frenchman” change from being with the “Gendemen” and against Jean-Jacques in the “First Dialogue,” to being against the “Gentlemen” and for Jean-Jacques at the end of the “Third Dialogue.” In the course of this transformation, the author reveals his system. The Dialogues shows that, far from being an abstract starting point, the principle of natural goodness is the positive expression of an absence of forgiveness that constitutes the true heart of Rousseau’s system. The Frenchman claims that throughout the works of Jean-Jacques, one sees the “development of his great principle that nature made man happy and good, but that society depraves him and makes him miserable” (CW 1:213; Pl. 1:934).4] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A Reinterpretation of Rousseau“Everything Relates to that First Accusation”

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References (3)

Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan US
Copyright
© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Nature America Inc. 2007
ISBN
978-1-349-37015-3
Pages
19 –37
DOI
10.1057/9780230607132_2
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[Beginning with a character named Rousseau expressing his scandal at Jean-Jacques, and ending with this same character and his dialogue partner promising their devoted presence at Jean-Jacques’ death, Rousseau Juge de Jean-Jacques: Dialogues encompasses and exemplifies the whole of Rousseau’s system.1 Composed of three dialogues, the drama, and not just the exposition, make this achievement possible.2 The Dialogues is a story of conversion.3 Put in the baldest terms, the interlocutors “Rousseau” and the “Frenchman” change from being with the “Gendemen” and against Jean-Jacques in the “First Dialogue,” to being against the “Gentlemen” and for Jean-Jacques at the end of the “Third Dialogue.” In the course of this transformation, the author reveals his system. The Dialogues shows that, far from being an abstract starting point, the principle of natural goodness is the positive expression of an absence of forgiveness that constitutes the true heart of Rousseau’s system. The Frenchman claims that throughout the works of Jean-Jacques, one sees the “development of his great principle that nature made man happy and good, but that society depraves him and makes him miserable” (CW 1:213; Pl. 1:934).4]

Published: Jun 9, 2015

Keywords: Human Race; Ideal World; Natural Goodness; Dialogue Partner; Ordinary Form

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