In what ways and to what extent is an understanding of historical context important in approaching the works of (a) David and (b) Rousseau?.
When we are looking at the works of David and Rousseau an understanding of historical context in which the works were produced will assist us to appreciate why and how these works were created. .
In order to understand the historical context we need to make a historical inquiry into the circumstances in which their work was produced and the time in history, it refers to. .
A useful starting point would be to look at the subject's own personal history, and psychology. What were their beliefs and moral values? What were the events and preoccupations, which shaped their career? We could consider any connections, which can be made to the historical circumstances in which their work was produced. Is there a connection to a particular social class or section of society? .
We could take into account the presiding traditions in thought and art at the time. Who influenced David and Rousseau? What in particular were they trying to express or convey through their work, and if any specific significance can be attached to any particular political events? .
Without knowledge of Rousseau's own personal history it is hard to appreciate the intensely moralistic character and relevance of Rousseau's political writings.
"Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778) became famous as a "French" political philosopher and educationalist. Rousseau arrived in Paris in 1741; he was impressed by the idea that society was artificial and unfair in its organisation". .
His early thoughts and attitudes were formed by his travels and experience, and are reflective of his own personal psychology. .
"Rousseau never abandoned the republican ideals of his native city. His extensive acquaintance with the writings of classical antiquity likewise helped to strengthen him in the view that a small, compact community run by a politically active citizen body was the only acceptable form of government.
Philosophy was greatly effected by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau developed phenomena known as thy "self". ... Rousseau also wrote books. ... He also brought Henry David Thoreau into the light. Henry David Thoreau brought Emerson's ideas and took them a step farther. ...
Classical Economics and Industrialization School of Economics thought was begun at the late eighteen century with Adam Smith. Adam Smith had set many concepts and principles of classical economics in Britain. And his famous work Wealth of Nations was published in 1776. Smith argued that free com...
Malthus's father also had the tremendously uncommon opportunity to meet and be acquaintances with the not yet world wide known Rousseau and David Home (Thomas Robert Malthus). ... Secondly, David Richard's works contain elements of Malthus's theories (Malthus Thomas, Robert. ...
Grolier 186)," and his godfather was Jean Jacques Rousseau, the philosopher (Rickard np). ... His writings were, according to David Nicholls, an attempt to "demolish" their "utopian ideas (321)." ... A wealthy stockbroker, David Ricardo, wrote a book entitled Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, which took Malthus" ideas one step further. ...
David Hume is most commonly known as one of the most important philosophers to ever write in the English language. ... While in Paris Hume gained great esteem in Parisian literary circles and forged a friendship with eminent French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau. In 1765 Hume returned to England with Rousseau but the two fell out of favor with each other and produced very public criticisms of one another. ...
His work is concerned with a variety of fields ranging from psychology to political science and the synthesis of the liberal ideals of philosophers such as Rousseau and Herbert while adding the equally important aspect of practicality or utilitarianism. ... David Halliburton (1997)quotes Dewey on his views of environment as presented in "Democracy and Education" (1916): "Human nature exists and operates in an environment. ...
The Enlightenment is a name given by historians to an intellectual movement that was main period in the Western world during the 18th century. The Age of Enlightenment was a period that took place after the Renaissance and is characterized by profound changes in the mind and attitude, and lives of m...
Martin Luther King, Jr. who was also considered to be one of the greatest men who ever lived, wrote in his first book, Stride Towards Freedom, that The intellectual and moral satisfaction that I failed to gain from the utilitarianism of Bentham and Mill, the revolutionary methods of Marx and Lenin, the social contracts theory of Hobbes, the "back to Nature" optimism of Rousseau, and the superman philosophy of Nietzsche, I found in the non-violent resistance philosophy of Gandhi. ... During one of his many jailing, Gandhi read the book Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau (1817-1866). ...
