The artistic and aesthetic dimension in the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Abstract

Jean-Jacques Rousseau considers art and literature as a direct extension of nature, or as the primal cry of humanity, akin to the expressions of his natural state. Rousseau absolutely rejects any form of art detached from virtue and nature, viewing literature not as a luxury, but as a central axis with profound social and foundational dimensions.
Through his passion and dedication to art and the novel, Rousseau reflects, to a considerable extent, the meaning of existence that he sought within himself delving deeply and purposefully into the pure essence of humanity, inseparable from its entire being and manifestations. His vision remains harmonious and aligned with both the spirit and structure of life, in a vast horizon free from psychological fragmentation and social deviation, in pursuit of the highest meanings of love, life, and beauty. By understanding philosophy through its literature, it becomes evident that Rousseau intertwined philosophy and literature, transforming philosophical texts into vivid, authentic human experiences, thereby paving the way for the emergence of Romanticism.