Jean-Jacques Rousseau: The Self and Time

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Published: Mar 25, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22766
Keywords:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau; Self (Ego); Time; Amour Propre (Vanity); Amour de Soi (Self-love); Alienation; Emile; Nature
Anestis Melidonis
Abstract

This article explores Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophical investigation into the human condition, focusing on the concepts of time, self-discovery, and social alienation. The author examines Rousseau's narrative of human transition from the hypothetical "state of nature" to the corrupting influences of established society, primarily through a comparative reading of the Discourse on Inequality and Emile. In Emile, Rousseau presents a model of education that respects the natural pace of time, allowing childhood to be fully experienced before the onset of the "age of reason". A central theme is the distinction between "self-love" (amour de soi) and the socially derived, alienated "vanity" (amour propre), which creates a rift between "being" (être) and "appearing" (paraître). The study further delves into Rousseau's autobiographical pursuits, as analyzed by thinkers like Starobinski, Blanchot, and Dilthey, highlighting his restless search for an elusive, stable "Ego" and his conviction that existential truth is rooted in the intensity of feeling rather than the mere passage of years.

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References
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