Philosophers, Explained covers major philosophers and texts, especially the great classics. In each episode, Professor Hicks discusses an important work, doing a close reading that lasts 40 minutes to an hour.

In this episode, Dr. Hicks discusses Book 1 of Jean Jacques Rousseau's 1762 work "Emile, or Education." Rousseau (17121778) was a Swiss political philosopher, noted for writing on social contract theory and the general will. He was a critic of modernity, city life and the Enlightenment; he was known for praising primitive life.

Timestamps:

00:44 The text
01:36 The broader context
02:01 The social contract
03:31 On the founder of a state
05:02 The place of religion
07:46 The state religion
08:45 Rousseau is not a liberal
10:43 The book begins
12:35 Developmentalism
14:05 God makes all things good
15:00 No original sin
15:40 All artificial things are corrupt
16:49 Without education
18:19 Horticultural images
19:19 The size of the ideal social group
21:56 The Romans
24:20 Praise of Plato
25:04 Where education begins
26:05 Civilized man is born and dies a slave
27:06 The infant is bound up but must be free
31:40 Formal education
33:10 Introduction of Emile
34:38 Avoid city life
36:02 Crowding is corruption
36:23 The young child must form no habits
39:02 Four maxims

Stephen R. C. Hicks, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University, USA, and has had visiting positions at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., University of Kasimir the Great in Poland, Oxford University’s Harris Manchester College in England, and Jagiellonian University in Poland.

Other links:

Explaining Postmodernism audiobook:    • Explaining Postmodernism by Stephen H...  
Nietzsche and the Nazis audiobook:    • Nietzsche and the Nazis by Stephen R....  

Playlists:

Education Theory:    • Education Theory  
Entrepreneurship and Values:    • Entrepreneurship and Values Series  
Nietzsche:    • Nietzsche