Rousseau's God: Theology, Religion, and the Natural Goodness of Man - Paperback

by John T. Scott (Author)

A landmark study of Rousseau's theological and religious thought.

John T. Scott offers a comprehensive interpretation of Rousseau's theological and religious thought, both in its own right and in relation to Rousseau's broader oeuvre. In chapters focused on different key writings, Scott reveals recurrent themes in Rousseau's views on the subject and traces their evolution over time. He shows that two concepts--truth and utility--are integral to Rousseau's writings on religion. Doing so helps to explain some of Rousseau's disagreements with his contemporaries: their different views on religion and theology stem from different understandings of human nature and the proper role of science in human life. Rousseau emphasizes not just what is true, but also what is useful--psychologically, morally, and politically--for human beings. Comprehensive and nuanced, Rousseau's God is vital to understanding key categories of Rousseau's thought.

Author Biography

John T. Scott is distinguished professor of political science at the University of California, Davis. He is the author most recently of Rousseau's Reader: Strategies of Persuasion and Education, also published by the University of Chicago Press.