The Confessions

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1788) was a Swiss philosopher, writer, and composer. He is best known for his contribution to the concepts of liberal democracy and is credited for inspiring the French Revolution and Marxism. Rousseau became a writer at the age of 36 when he responded to a call for essays discussing the relationship between the arts and morals. Rousseau’s contribution gained considerable fame, and he went on to publish several major works and operas. Rousseau believed that civilization contributed to the major downfalls of human existence, and he eventually abandoned his fellow philosophers to pursue a solitary life in a cottage in Montmorency. After a highly publicized falling out with the intellectual community in Europe, Rousseau wrote a memoir at his editor’s encouragement. Rousseau was determined that Confessions would bare the soul in a way that no prior memoirs had.

Rousseau experienced many troubles. He suffered from urinary tract retention and had multiple relapses. The publication of his book Émile angered the Paris Parliament; the government attempted to make an example of Rousseau by publicly burning a copy of the educational dissertation and putting out a warrant for his arrest. Rousseau managed to escape France, but his reputation suffered a blow: Voltaire published a pamphlet detailing Rousseau’s many offenses, including the abandonment of his children.