Jean–Jacques Rousseau was a gifted prankster; he was an even better conman. Upon navigating the long list of pranks and cons the philosopher from Geneva admits to in his autobiography, Confessions, it’s difficult to not look at his celebrated, and highly influential, social and political works (Discourse on the Arts & Sciences, The Social Contract, etc.) in a mischievous light. In Confessions, Rousseau often refers to his numerous misdeeds as “misdemeanors.” These “crimes” are so damning that, when read through this lens, his more serious works appear to be “felonies.” Was The Social Contract Rousseau’s biggest prank? The state of nature a well-crafted con?
Read Full Article »
