The Paradox of Progress: Rousseau's Critique of the Arts and Sciences (Rousseau, Pt. 2)

Part two of our lecture series on Jean-Jacques Rousseau, itself part of a larger series called Foundations of Western Political Thought. Today we examine Rousseau's Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences. Written in 1750 for an essay competition sponsored by the Academy of Dijon, the First Discourse, as it became known, made Rousseau famous in Parisian circles. In it, he argued that "Our minds have been corrupted in proportion as our arts and sciences have made advances toward their perfection" -- that the more polished and sophisticated a society and culture become, the more corrupting its influence on man. The thesis advanced by Rousseau in this essay contradicted some of the most fundamental tenets of the Age of Enlightenment.

Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro: The First Discourse
2:13 – Entering the Essay Contest
6:30 – Garlands of Flowers on Iron Fetters
10:30 – The Superficiality of Polished Cultures
19:19 – Historical Examples
28:05 – O Sparta! thou proof of the folly of vain learning!

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Dr. Jonathan Barth received his PhD in history from George Mason University in 2014. He specializes in the history of money and banking in the early modern period, with corollary interests in early modern politics, empire, culture, and ideas. Barth is Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University and Associate Director of the Center for American Institutions at Arizona State University.
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Visit my website https://www.professorbarth.com/
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel are my own and do not reflect the views of Arizona State University, nor are any of the views endorsed by Arizona State University.