Rousseau on State of Nature and Education - Foundations of Modern Social Thought

Explore Rousseau's influential ideas on the state of nature and education in this 44-minute lecture from Yale University's "Foundations of Modern Social Thought" course. Delve into the concept of general will and its application in social and civic life, examining how it relates to compulsory actions for the common good. Discover the distinction between amour de soi and amour propre, and how they shape individuals and citizens. Investigate Rousseau's educational theory presented in his book "Emile," which argues that individuals are born good but corrupted by society. Learn about his concept of "negative education" and its focus on teaching students how to think rather than what to think. The lecture also covers Rousseau's views on nature, society, and the transformation of individuals into social beings, as well as his perspectives on gender, sexuality, and love.

- Chapter 1. General Will (cont.)
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- Chapter 2. "Émile": Major Themes
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- Chapter 3. Nature is Good; Society Corrupts
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- Chapter 4. Turning Savages into Social Beings
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- Chapter 5. Men and Women, Sexuality and Love
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