Why is Rousseau always in the foreground when we talk about the philosophers of the Enlightenment and not Voltaire?

[Julie4]

[BCA6010]

I don't recall that being the case when I was in school - Voltaire is the one who got more attention. What's interesting is that both of those guys were major influences on the American declaration of Independence, yet hated each other and regularly discredited or dismissed each other's works to the point of obsession.

[Julie4]

So true

[RavVid]

I am not the most philosophic of people and am inclined to think if all the philosophers (rather than economists) were placed end to end they would not reach a conclusion.

Rousseau seems to fit better with the current rights culture in Western culture than Voltaire does is as complex as I can get.

I prefer Utilitarianism/Benthan - it just makes more sense and is more practical in it's application. I don't see highfalutin notions as adding much value.

[laly520]

Rousseau was controversial
the drama of his personal life was more famous than his own philosophy n work at certain point
not to mention his point of views been criticised brutally across years making him more catchy n interesting

[exitseven]

I am not as familiar with Rousseau as I am with Voltaire. I think that Voltaire was considered a satirist more than a philosopher. Rousseau was sort of a socialist

[RyanEC]

I’m not sure.

I think he is less known then Voltaire and John Lock and more known then Montesquieu.

[Julie4]

I believe that Montesquieu had a certain influence on the laws of the usa...

[RyanEC]

Yes of course but the European influences of the founding of America is unfortunately glossed over.

Now the right wing Christian fundamentalists (who tend to be isolationist) in America say America was founded as a Christian nation when it clearly was not.
And left wingers don’t care about the construction.

They don’t want to highlight French deist.

[Staximus]

I don't know, I'm going to have to read some books before I answer that

[OddBeMe]

Just shows how much the government turning against you can affect you historically. Ask De Sade