Jean-Jacques Rousseau

About

One of the most influential Enlightenment philosophers. He created the idea of a social contract between individuals and the state.

Before Fame

He had to fake an interest in Catholicism to gain employment because he had little formal education.

Trivia

His master work was The Social Contract in which he created the French rallying cry of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," but his ideas were later adapted by totalitarian states to justify their existence.

Family Life

His mother, Suzanne Bernard Rousseau, raised him in a Genevan upper class society.

Associated With

He influenced both Immanuel Kant in his thoughts about moral law and Karl Marx in his political theories.