CTE Historical Figure Studied: Jean-Jaques Rosseau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jean-Jaques Rosseau, a prominent and famous philosopher, was born on June 28^th, 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland living until July 2^nd,1778 Ermenoville, France when he passed away . The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy credits him as, “an important figure in the history of philosophy, both because of his contributions to political philosophy and moral psychology and because of his influence on later thinkers,” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philiosophy, 2017). His influence and importance extends past the realm of philosophy and even effects educational practices today. Such ideas can be found in his literary work, Emile;  ou, de l’education, meaning ‘On Education’ in English,which became a published work in the year 1762. Within that publication Rosseau, advances the idea of ‘negative education’, which is a form of ‘child-centered’ education,”(Stanford Encyclopedia of Philiosophy, 2017). This view of education suggests that educational practices should be, “carried out, so far as possible, in harmony with the development of the child’s natural capacities by a process of apparently autonomous discovery,” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philiosophy, 2017). Rosseau’s ideals on how educational practices should be conducted directly contradicted the commonly accepted and facilitated pedagogy of his time. Common place education practices during the 1700’s involved a system of learning where the teacher serves as a , “figure of authority who conveys knowledge and skills according to a pre-determined curriculum,” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philiosophy, 2017). Although now seen as visionary ideals, Rosseau’s models on how education should operate were highly criticized, resulting in serving as a driving influence for his exile in 1763, (Encyclopedia Britannica & Duignan, 2020). Those who opposed it felt so strongly in fact government officials from both Paris and Geneva called for the immediate reaction of, “ordered the book to be burned and the author arrested,” (Encyclopedia Britannica & Duignan, 2020). Such attitudes towards Rosseau’s work caused the author to eventually denounce his citizenship to the city of Geneva, Switzerland, in 1763, while additionally influencing the decision for him to, “became a fugitive, spending the rest of his life moving from one refuge to another,” (Encyclopedia Britannica & Duignan, 2020). 

Within his publication of his studies and theories of education, Rosseau states that those within the facilitation role of education must provide students with their instruction focused on assisting students to understand, “vice and error, which are alien to a child’s original nature, are introduced by external agencies,” (Encyclopedia Britannica & Duignan, 2020). Such practices include teachers and education professionals focusing their facilitation of student education to be, “directed to counteracting those forces by manipulating pressures that will work with nature and not against it,” (Encyclopedia Britannica & Duignan, 2020). 

            Rosseau’s influence on education today can be seen through his lingering ideas that, “natural education promotes and encourages qualities such as happiness, spontaneity, and the inquisitiveness associated with childhood,” (The Roots of Educational Theory, n.d.). His goal was for education to provide children with the opportunity to be, “shielded from societal pressures and influences so that the natural tendencies of each child could emerge and grow without any unwarranted corruption,” (The Roots of Educational Theory, n.d.). Instances of this educational theology can be seen through the needed establishment of student needs, wants, and inspirations to be the core driving purpose for academic study, the core principal of engagement within education. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Encyclopedia Britannica, & Duignan, B. (2020, June 28). Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Major works of political philosophy. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Jacques-Rousseau/Major-works-of-political-philosophy

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philiosophy. (2017, May 26). Jean Jacques Rousseau (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rousseau/

The Roots of Educational Theory. (n.d.). Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Retrieved from https://educationalroots.weebly.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.html#:%7E:text=Jean%20Jacques%20Rousseau%20was%20an,and%20a%20forerunner%20of%20Romanticism.&text=He%20believed%20that%20natural%20education,the%20inquisitiveness%20associated%20with%20childhood.

Wikipedia. (2020, September 4). [Jean-Jacques Rousseau]. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau