The First and Second Discourses

By Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Roger D. Masters, Judith R. Masters (translator)

Book cover of The First and Second Discourses

Book description

As one of the most respected translations of this key work of 18th-century philosophy, this edition of First and Second Discourses contains abundant notes that range from simple explanations to speculative interpretations.


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Why read it?

1 author picked The First and Second Discourses as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Rousseau took up the critique of civilized politics where Plato left off. All later critics of capitalism, technology, and media—e.g., Karl Marx, Jacques Ellul, and Neil Postman—stand in his debt. And many of his most radical insights have been amply confirmed by contemporary anthropologists. In short, a rich playground for the intellect.

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