Rousseau was the least academic of modern philosophers and in many ways was the most influential. His thought marked the end of the European Enlightenment (the “Age of Reason”). He propelled political and ethical thinking into new channels. His reforms revolutionized taste, first in music, then in the other arts.

Why is Rousseau important today?

Rousseau's notions about natural human kindness and the emotional foundations of ethics still furnish the core of today's moral outlook, and much of modern political philosophy likewise builds on the foundation of Rousseau's On Social Contract (1762).

How did Rousseau influence us today?

Jean Jacques Rousseau had a major impact on modern governments through the advancement of the philosophy of social contract. The social contract can also be seen in the American Declaration of Independence when the Founding Fathers sought to establish a government for and by the people of the United States.