The Cambridge Companion to Rousseau

Universally regarded as the greatest French political theorist and philosopher of education of the Enlightenment, and probably the greatest French social theorist tout court, Rousseau was an important forerunner of the French Revolution, though his thought was too nuanced and subtle ever to serve as mere ideology. This 2001 volume systematically surveys the full range of Rousseau's activities in politics and education, psychology, anthropology, religion, music and theater.

1. Introduction: the life and works of Rousseau Patrick Riley; 2. A general overview George Armstrong Kelly; 3. Rousseau, Voltaire, and the revenge of Pascal Mark Hulliung; 4. Rousseau, Fénelon, and the quarrel between the ancients and the moderns Patrick Riley; 5. Rousseau's political philosophy Christopher Brooke; 6. Rousseau's general will Patrick Riley; 7. Rousseau's images of authority especially in La Nouvelle Héloise Judith Shklar; 8. The religious thought Victor Gourevitch; 9. Émile: learning to be men, women and citizens Geraint Parry; 10. Émile: nature and the education of Sophie Susan Meld Shell; 11. Rousseau's Confessions Christopher Kelly; 12. Music, politics, theater and representation in Rousseau Tracy Strong and C. N. Dugan; 13. The motto Vitam Impendere vero and the question of lying Jean Starobinski; 14. Rousseau's Levite of Ephraïm: synthesis within a 'minor' work Thomas Kavanagh; 15. Ancient Postmodernism in the philosophy of Rousseau Robert Wokler; Bibliography.

This 2001 volume systematically surveys the full range of Rousseau's activities in politics and education, psychology, anthropology, religion, music and theater. New readers will find this an accessible guide to Rousseau, while advanced students and specialists will find a conspectus of recent developments in the interpretation of the French thinker.