what is Rousseau's view on human nature? good bad?

Answer 1

Rousseau believed that humans were intrinsically good when in their natural state (before civilization) but believed humans were corrupted by society.

Here is a short list of his major works.

This is a capsulated explanation. There are many good books on Rousseau's philosphical thesis.
Discourse on the Arts and Sciences (Discours sur les sciences et les arts), 1750
Narcissus, or The Self-Admirer: A Comedy, 1752
Le Devin du Village: an opera, 1752, scorePDF (21.7 MiB)
Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men (Discours sur l'origine et les fondements de l'inégalité parmi les hommes), 1754
Discourse on Political Economy, 1755
Letter to M. D'Alembert on Spectacles, 1758 (Lettre à d'Alembert sur les spectacles)
Julie, or the New Heloise (Julie, ou la nouvelle Héloïse), 1761
Émile: or, on Education (Émile ou de l'éducation), 1762
The Creed of a Savoyard Priest, 1762 (in Émile)
The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right (Du contrat social), 1762
Four Letters to M. de Malesherbes, 1762
Letters Written from the Mountain, 1764 (Lettres de la montagne)
Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Les Confessions), 1770, published 1782
Constitutional Project for Corsica, 1772
Considerations on the Government of Poland, 1772
Essay on the origin of language, published 1781 (Essai sur l'origine des langues)
Reveries of a Solitary Walker, incomplete, published 1782 (Rêveries du promeneur solitaire)
Dialogues: Rousseau Judge of Jean-Jacques, published 1782

Answer 2

Rousseau Human Nature

Answer 3

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RE:
what is Rousseau's view on human nature? good bad?

Answer 4

Rousseau was illiterate and his family abandoned him after the death of his mother. After being rejected by a lawyer for apprenticeship he was turned over to an engraver. His education after these stints was then taken into the care of a Madame who was a widow as well as his lover. It is there he receives his schooling and is left to form such things as his music ideas and his ideas on nature. Rousseau actually argues that societal constraints are what inhibit people from progress. In his writing, Rousseau was a romantic - the exact opposite of the idea that civilization makes people good, he argued that society is actually to blame for much of the evils of the world. He was attracted to ideas of nature and formed his essays as a reflection of this - especially in his works "A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality" and his criticism of education through "Emile". It's important to note that Rousseau was a key player in the Romantic movement and much of his writing is in a satirical tone, like Machiavelli's. Thus, it is easy to misread.

Answer 5

I agree with Elmo to a point. Rousseau did argue that humankind was intrinsically good in a natural setting, but his idea of "goodness" may be different from yours or mine. In a natural setting, we could be wild animals with no sense of justice or compassion. Rousseau's views are complex. (He also abandoned his children then went on to write articles on child rearing.)

Answer 6

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Humans came before civilization, so if we are inherently evil then it's hard to imagine that we'd ever have developed a meaningful civilization. Also, if we are inherently evil--more evil than good--then one would expect the human condition to be steadily deteriorating over time. Quite the opposite, we are much better off today than in ancient times. Our good nature is plainly winning out.

Answer 7

Rousseau believed that Man was born good and that the Society around him eventually corrupted him.