Rousseau's Counter-Enlightenment: A Republican Critique of the Philosophes

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Graeme Garrard argues that Jean-Jacques Rousseau's connection to the Enlightenment has been misrepresented due to his ties with the French Revolution. He presents Rousseau as a crucial figure in the development of Counter-Enlightenment thought, emphasizing his rejection of the Enlightenment's ideals in favor of a "republic of virtue." Rousseau critiqued the philosophes for their overreliance on reason, advocating instead for the cultivation of shared sentiments to maintain social order amidst the inherent complexities of collective life.