Is Jean-Jacques Rousseau the most influential philosopher in Western history?

[Julie4]

[Chandelier8]

I wouldn't say the most influential but definitely up there. I always loved Blake's poem:

Mock on, Mock on, Voltaire, Rousseau

Mock on, mock on, Voltaire, Rousseau:
Mock on, mock on: ‘tis all in vain!
You throw the sand against the wind,
And the wind blows it back again.

And every sand becomes a Gem,
Reflected in the beam divine;
Blown back they blind the mocking Eye,
But still in Israel’s paths they shine.

The Atoms of Democritus
And the Newton’s Particles of Light
Are sands upon the Red Sea shore,
Where Israel’s tents do shine so bright.

[ProbablyClueless]

Most influential? Not even close. Russeau's influence is very specific to the manifestation of self and identity within society. That's important, but there have been lots of other philosophers whose ideas had a more direct impact on the way our society functions.

[ZackBan]

In modern history probably when compared to the likes of Aristotle.

It is a long succession of philosophers who pushed for the idea of a democratic world and the western world of today is definitely modeled after that idea

[Julie4]

I hate Rousseau lol

[ZackBan]

I remember learning about him in school but that's pretty much it. I'm very curious as to why you hate him

[Joshydavid25]

Nah, he's not even in the top 10.. He'll even Karl Marx is in there.. Which makes sense because Marxism is VERY influential in Western society..

[Julie4]

You don't know Rousseau's influence very well lol

[Joshydavid25]

You're right I don't.. Never heard of him.. But that would beg the question.. So he really that influential then.. I mean no doubt he had some influence, but I mean I've seen a lot of philosphers quoted and never seen his name.

[Julie4]

Read Rousseau's Social Contract. And you'll understand that he has literally influenced all of modern society. In fact much more than communism, because today we still do Rousseau while communism exists only marginally.

[Joshydavid25]

Yeah, I'll read it.. Although, I looking at what I saw so far, he seems to be in the same league as John Locke and Adam Smith.. LOL.. Which he was influenced by the former..

[Julie4]

Well, in part, yes. But you'll see that Rousseau goes even further.

[Joshydavid25]

So far his premise that man (humanity) is good and that government corrupts humanity is definitely something I don't agree with.. 😂.. Don't know if this philosopher will influence my thoughts much.. But I'll still give him a read..

[Julie4]

Personally, I don't agree with him.

Yes, that is part of his ideas.

But you have to read the book lol and not just a summary because he goes deeper into his ideas. You will see that many of his ideas have not been without influence on American society itself. If I have to talk about France, he is literally the originator of the ideals of the French Revolution, and the communists themselves consider the French Revolution as the "Great Revolution".

Not bad for a philosopher who is not so famous, huh? 🤣

[Joshydavid25]

Of course.. I did say I will still give him a read.. 😂😂😂.. I'm just researching a little bit to see what he's about, and so far I already know I won't agree with him.. Since that's the core basis of what he believes..

[Julie4]

Oh well, I guess you are for popular sovereignty, which Lincoln described in his speech for example as "the principle of government of the people, by the people and for the people."

On education he wrote

"It is education that must give souls national strength, and so direct their opinions and tastes, that they are patriotic by inclination, by passion, by necessity. When a child opens his eyes, he must see the fatherland, and until death, he must see only her. Every true republican sucks with his mother's milk the love of his country, that is to say, of laws and liberty. This love makes up his whole existence; he sees only his homeland, he lives only for it; as soon as he is alone, he is useless: as soon as he has no homeland, he is no more; and if he is not dead, he is worse."

I think you Americains have taken this idea of patriotic education very seriously lol

But in any case, it's easy to see from Rousseau's ideas, whether you agree with him or not, that his influence was considerable.

[Joshydavid25]

Well, really I should have said, I don't entirely agree with him.. So far.. That man is basically good.. That people are angels without government.. At the same time I do think government kinda socks, and am closer to a Libertarian.. But I do believe people need some type of governance.. Popular Sovereignty seems to have worked well enough. But I did download the book on Audible just now.. 😉

[Julie4]

You didn't have to do it afterwards lol

But good listening. I prefer to read because his writing is so beautiful.

But once you've finished listening to him, you'll see, whether you agree or not, that his influence has not been minor lol

[Julie4]

*to do it now

[Joshydavid25]

It's obvious that you even though you don't agree with him, you seem to admire the man.. 😂..

But I just downloaded it, to listen to it at a later time, while it was still on my mind.. Although, I never said his influence was minor, just said that I've never seen him quoted and mentioned as most influential..

[Julie4]

You said he wasn't even in the top 10, whereas a man who described the principle of popular sovereignty, equality and liberty should be in the top 10 lol.

Once again, it's not a question of liking him or not, but of noting his influence, which is the origin of my question lol.

[Joshydavid25]

Well, not being in the top 10 doesn't make his influence minor, just not as great as those in the top 10.

Oh, yeah I was going off the fact that you called his writings beautiful, meaning even though you don't agree with him, you must admire him in some way.. I was lightly pointing it out.. I found it funny in a endearing way..

[Julie4]

If it's not in the top 10 nobody is lol. i speak for the West lol.

Oh yeah for his writing I'm an absolute fan lol but for example Victor Hugo a giant of literature , he was bad politically lol ( well for me )

[Joshydavid25]

I don't know about that.. I mean it could be that some of his ideas gained traction in the wider scope of things, but not enough to label him most influential.. Not saying it's true, just saying that could be.

Hahaha I figured..

[RavVid]

I would say so though he is somewhat under the covers now. The political philosophy of a social contract between people and gov't is ubiquitous.

[Avicenna]

And here I thought it was me!

There's any number of philosophers it could arguably be, TBH.

[AviatorTom]

He's an interesting philosopher, but many others have had a greater influence than him: Voltaire, Karl Marx, John Locke to name just a few.

[BCRanger10]

I dunno. Thomas Aquinas might have a leg up on him.

[KostasKouvalis]

Apparently not, since I've never heard of him

[Julie4]

Hmm, which philosophers do you know and have read?

[KostasKouvalis]

Confucius. I don't study philosophy. Though I'm sure if I heard some quotes, I'd know them.

[KostasKouvalis]

As far as ones I know
Confucious, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Karl Marx, Voltaire, Ibn Sina

[Julie4]

Have you read them, or do you just know their names and a few lines written by them?

[KostasKouvalis]

Honestly, most of them I don't even know any lines, but I know their names from history.

[Julie4]

Then you must know Rousseau, seriously this man had a considerable influence, popular sovereignty etc. all that its him!

[KostasKouvalis]

Did they name the Dominican capital after him?

[KostasKouvalis]

John Locke also rings a bell

[Julie4]

I don't know for capital

[KostasKouvalis]

I forgot about Rumi

[equinoxmist]

No. Great philosopher but many more have had more impact.

[Jackblue]

Well he was proto-hippie man whore (literally) so yes, I guess he was since that is what the world has become like lol.

[Staximus]

I don't know, but he has a pretty fancy hairdo. Maybe I should read some of his stuff

[Julie4]

Oh you're probably doing Rousseau without really knowing it lol.

If I remember correctly, you're the one who thinks that society corrupts men, And that nature is good and that man should return to his natural state?

[Staximus]

That's right, we should have never got past the hunter-gatherer stage, caves and huts. Curse the bloody industrial revolution, electricity, and the plow!

[Julie4]

Well, you're a Rousseauist, but 300 years too late lol

[love_conquers_lust]

I remember more explicitly from Descartes than Rousseau.

[Dargil]

I favor Edmund Burke.

[Julie4]

That's not really the question lol

[Dargil]

It is my answer, though.

[Julie4]

An answer that has nothing to do with the question, is strange to say the least lol