French Philosopher:

Jean-Jacques

Rousseau

Main Life Accomplishments:

Was a major philosopher, literary figure, and composer of the Enlightenment whose political philosophy influenced the French Revolution and the development of liberal, conservative and socialist theory. With his Confessions, Reveries of a Solitary Walker and other writings, he invented modern autobiography and encouraged a new focus on the building of subjectivity that bore fruit in the work of thinkers as diverse as Hegel and Freud. His novel Julie, ou la nouvelle Héloïse was one of the best-selling fictional works of the eighteenth century and was important to the development of romanticism[1]. Rousseau made important contributions to music as a theorist and a composer. He was buried in the Panthéon in Paris in 1794.

 

Basics:

Born: 28-Jun-1712 Geneva, Switzerland\

Died: July 2, 1778 (aged 66) (Ermenonville, France)

Nationality:  France

Religion:  Roman Catholic

Fields:  Philosophy

Main Accomplishments:   A Genevan philosopher whose political ideas greatly influenced the French Revolution. He believed that humans were not good nor bad in nature, but corrupt in society.

 

Chronology of Life Events:

1712

June 12, born in Geneva to a watchmaker and the daughter of a minister who died after giving birth to him.

1722

His father is exiled from Geneva after a fight and moves to Lyons. Rousseau stays in Geneva in the charge of his mother's relations.

1724

Apprenticed to his uncle a lawyer who finds him incapable and sends him back.

1725

Apprenticed to an engraver.

1728

Runs away from his apprenticeship and wanders about Italy France and Switzerland. Meets Madame de Warens after converting to Catholicism in Turin.

1731

Lives in Chambery protected by the widow Madame de Warens.

1733

Madam de Warens becomes his mistress.

1738

Becomes ill and goes to Montpellier which facilitates a liason with Madame de Larange. Loses his relationship to Madam de Warens.

1740

Tutors at Lyon.

1741

Goes to Paris after discovering he neither likes teaching nor is very good at it.

1742

Unsuccessfully presents a new system of music to the Academy of Sciences. Becomes secretary to the ambassador to Venice, M. de Montaigu.

1743

Meets Therese le Vasseur who will become his mistress, bearing him five children, and whom he marries near the end of his life.

1745

Returns to Paris. Collaborates on the Encyclopedia.

1751

Publishes Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts.

1752

Production of his opera the Village Soothsayer.

1754

Returns to Geneva and abjures his abjuration of the Protestant religion.

1755

Publishes Discourse on Inequality.

1756

April moves back to Paris in a cottage at Montmorency. Writes Heloise.

1757

Leaves Montmorency for nearby Montlouis after a quarrel with Diderot.

1758

Publication of Letter to d'Alembert and final rupture in his relations with Diderot.

1761

Publication of Heloise.

1762

Publication of Emile and The Social Contract which forces him to leave France to avoid arrest. Lives briefly in Neuchatel.

1763

Renounces citizenship of Geneva.

1765

Driven from Motiers to the Island of Saint-Pierre.

1766

David Hume offers him asylum in England. Begins work on Confessions.

1767

Returns to live in various provinces of France.

1770

Returns to live in Paris. Writes many of his most important works while in Paris over the next eight years including his Dialogues and Reveries.

1778

Moves to Ermenonville where he dies suddenly on July 2.

 

Wife Background:

Thérèse Levasseur, also known as Thérèse Le Vasseur and Thérèse Lavasseur, was the wife of French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

She was a barely-literate seamstress who may have borne him as many as five children, all of whom were given away to Enfants-Trouvés foundling home, the first in 1746 and the others in 1747, 1748, 1751, and 1752.
They met in March 1745, at the hotel where he was staying, and she was employed as a chambermaid, and she remained his companion until his death. They went through a legally invalid marriage ceremony at Bourgoin on August 29, 1768. Therese provided Rousseau with support and care, and when he died, she became the sole heiress of his belongings, including manuscripts and royalties. After Rousseau's death in 1778, she married valet Jean-Henri Bally in November 1779. They lived together in Plessis-Belleville until her death in 1801.

 

Françoise-Louise de Warens, also called Madame de Warens (1699 in Vevey -1768 in Chambéry), was the benefactor and mistress of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. She was born into a Swiss Protestant family who had immigrated to Annecy, but became a Catholic in 1726 to receive a church pension which had been instated to increase the spread of Catholicism near Geneva, then a bastion of Protestantism.

 

Father Background:

Isaac Rousseau was a skilled watchmaker, proud to have married a beautiful woman, Suzanne Bernard, the daughter of a Calvinist minister. After the birth of their first son, Francois, Issac travelled to Constantinople in hopes of bettering himself. Suzanne and Fracious remained in Geneva. When Isaac returned, six years later, Suzanne became pregnant again but then died of puerperal fever within a week after giving birth, on June 12 of 1712, to Jean-Jacques, who, being small and weak, also wasn't expected to survive.

 

Isaac, exhausted perhaps by his frequent quarrels over money with his mother-in-law, left his wife in 1705 for Constantinople. He returned to Suzanne in September 1711. Jean Jacques was born on June 28, 1712, at Geneva, Switzerland. Nine days later his mother died.

 

Mother Background:

Suzanne Bernard Rousseau, died only days after his birth leaving him to his father who not only failed to educate him but also abandoned him when Rousseau was just ten years old. Relatives of Rousseau’s mother took over care of Rousseau but at age sixteen he ran away from an apprenticeship to travel. During this time he became acquainted with a Madame de Warens with whom he lived for approximately nine years.

 
 
SuperAttainer

ANALYSIS SECTION:

 
 
1. Early Success
 

When did the SuperAttainer first display ability that was greatly above average and what were his accomplishments? 
 

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2. Contrarian

 
What actions did the SuperAttainer take that demonstrated a mindset that was very different from those around him?
 

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3. Conceited
 
What are the actions and documented statements that exhibit an elevated sense of self importance of the SuperAttainer? 
 
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4. Hard-Knocked 
 
During what events did the SuperAttainer experience personal misery and severe anxiety?
  

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5. Loner
 
Is there evidence of the SuperAttainer being comfortable spending time apart from others? 
 

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6. Mentored & Motivated
 
Who was vital to developing the SuperAttainer and guiding his career and what significant actions were taken?
 

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7. Discontent
 
What evidence is there that the SuperAttainer was unsatisfied with even great personal accomplishment?
 

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8. Promoted
 
What actions or events were responsible for publicizing the tremendous achievements and abilities of the SuperAttainer?
 

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Overall Score:

x out of 8 = xx% 

PASS

SuperAttainer Type:

Describe the factors in the SuperAttainer’s background to indicate whether he is a Come-From-Nothing or Aristocratic type..

Conclusion:

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