A Reinterpretation of Rousseau A Religious System [Paperback]

In this radical reinterpretation of Rousseau, Jeremiah Alberg argues that the philosopher's system of thought is founded on theological scandal, and on Rousseau's inability to accept forgiveness. Alberg explores his views in relation to alternative forms of Christianity.Foreword by Ren? Girard PART I: INTRODUCTION Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Scandal Everything Relates to that First Accusation PART II: EMILE The Forming of Emile Professing Faith The Scandal of Politics The Politics of Scandal PART III: THE DISCOURSES The Scandal of Origins The Origin of Scandal The Logic of Scandal PART IV: AUTOBIOGRAPHY The Confession of Scandal At the Bottom of the Abyss Part V: CONCLUSION - FORGIVING ROUSSEAU

It is in fact a lavishly researched and tautly reasoned achievement, won in fertile and respectful conversation, as his ample footnotes exhibit, with the enormous host of ROUSSEAU scholars. More precisely, it completes the work of Jean STAROBINSKI, in whose groundbreaking Jean-Jacques Rousseau: La Transparence et l'obstacle (Paris: Gallimard, 1957) the word scandal appears on the third page as a synonym for ROUSSEAU'S quarrel with society and culture as a whole. ALBERG uncovers every facet, every bounce and rebound of this obstacle in ROUSSEAU'S work. - The Bulletin of theColloquiumon Violence & Religion An important contribution to the understanding of a profound and influential thinker. - Christopher Kelly, Professor, Department of Political Science, Boston College

No one expects a merciful inquisition. Jeremiah Alberg, in a book which those who are not Rousseau scholars will find difficult at first, but which eventually yields great insight, takes Rousseau at his word but refuses to be scandalized by him. He shines a gentle light on the admittedly scandalizing and scandalized nature of Rousseau's own thinking, and reveals quite how central to the whole of Rousseau's project and rationality is a scandalized pattern of desire, one where a pel1