Jean-Jacques Rousseau (jan 1, 1712 – jan 1, 1778)

Description:

a Genevan philosopher, writer and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of modern political, economic and educational thought.

The arrival of La serva padrona in Paris created a debate between the natural style of
the comedy and the stilted tragedies lyriques. This controversy became known as the Querelle des Bouffons.
a. The Enlightenment writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau was involved in the debate,
favoring the natural style of the Italian comedies over his native French opera.
b. Rousseau linked the artificiality of French opera to issues of the court itself.

What Was the Enlightenment?
1. Rousseau noted that eighteenth-century people were mentally/emotionally/intellectually enslaved to religion, social customs, and authority in order to maintain social order.
2. Ideas that originated in France spread to Germany, and to the American colonies via
England.
3. Some rulers agreed with these principles; others did not.
a. Emperor Joseph II adopted many of these concepts in his own absolutism.
4. The careers of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven followed the evolution of personal
freedoms envisioned by the philosophes.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: