For more than two centuries, the political writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau have helped shape many different responses to historical experience. While today's readers are aware of Rousseau's contemporary significance, his writings on war and peace have been almost completely ignored. This book offers a fresh interpretation of two of Rousseau's little-known works: his unfinished "The State of War" and his summary and critique of the Abbe de Saint-Pierre's "Project for Perpetual Peace". Starting with an account of her discovery of the original page sequence of Rousseau's manuscript on "The State of War," Grace G. Roosevelt explores his theory of international conflict and explains his alternative approaches to the problem of securing peace. She brings out the important connections between Rousseau's theory of international politics and his principles of education, arguing throughout for the continuing relevance of his ideas.Roosevelt's main contention is that, when studied in relation to his works on politics and education, Rousseau's writings on war and peace provide the modern reader with a realistic analysis of the war system and a normative vision of the possibilities for peace.
In discussing his principles of education, Roosevelt suggests that Rousseau's writings challenge us to confront the question of whether educational systems should aim to create citizens of a particular state or citizens of the world. The book includes full translations, by the author, of Rousseau's unpublished manuscript on "The State of War" and of his forty-page 'Summary' and 'Critique' of the "Project for Perpetual Peace". Author note: Grace G. Roosevelt is Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Humanities in the General Studies Program at New York University.
- ISBN10 0877226792
- ISBN13 9780877226796
- Publish Date 20 March 1990
- Publish Status Out of Stock
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Temple University Press,U.S.
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 288
- Language English