Rousseau’s Rejuvenation of Political Philosophy, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2016 A New Introduction Recovering Political Philosophy Series

This book reads Jean-Jacques Rousseau with a view toward deepening our understanding of many political issues alive today, including the place of women in society, the viability of traditional family structures, the role of religion and religious freedom in nations that are becoming ever more secular, and the proper conduct of American constitutional government. Rousseau has been among the most influential modern philosophers, and among the most misunderstood. The first great philosophic critic of the Enlightenment, he sought to revive political philosophy as it was practiced by Plato, and to make it useful in the modern world. His understanding of politics rests on deep and often prescient reflections about the nature of the human soul and the relationship between our animal origins and the achievements of civilization. This book demonstrates that the implications Rousseau drew from those reflections continue to deserve serious attention.

Introduction .- Philosophic Anthropology in the Discourse on Inequality .- The Evolution of Humanity in Language: Discourse on Inequality and Essay on the Origin of Languages .- Greatness of Soul and the Souls of Women: Rousseau’s Use of Plato’s Laws in the Letter to D’Alembert .- Nature and Marriage: Emile or On Education .- Political Legitimacy, Direct Democracy, and American Politics

Offers accessible and thoughtful interpretations of some of Rousseau’s major political works and how they may engage with current political issues Brings new attention to Rousseau’s reading of Plato, providing a counterweight to those who understand him breaking from Platonic tradition Examines the extent to which the findings of modern science tend to bolster or undercut some of Rousseau’s central claims