EMIL WTRABYA

Rousseau's most concise and eloquent statements about his purpose in writing *Emile* are found almost at the beginning of the book. After specifying the type of education he will present—"domestic education or natural education"—Rousseau poses the question: "But what will a man raised uniquely for himself represent to others?" His imaginary pupil, Emile, will become a man raised uniquely for himself; that is, he will be raised to be free from any authority outside himself and without any prejudices instilled in him by others. The issue, then, is the relationship between what is inherently good for oneself as an independent being and the demands of justice in relationships with others. The relationship between goodness and moral virtue (including justice) is central to all of Rousseau's writings, and *Emile* offers the most systematic treatment of this important subject.
This theme is addressed in *Emile* in light of Rousseau's engagement with similar issues in other works. While Rousseau discusses fundamental questions of importance to his contemporaries, he does so within the broader context afforded by his study of the works of Locke and Plato in particular. Both thinkers feature prominently throughout Rousseau's book, and his confrontation with their ideas is one of the things that makes *Emile* his greatest work. Rousseau's choice to measure himself against the greatest thinkers of both the modern and ancient periods is a testament to his boundless ambition.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the writer and philosopher, is considered one of the most important writers of the Enlightenment. His writings helped shape political events and the French Revolution.
The book “Emile, or Education” is one of his most important writings. It is an educational journey about how to raise a child, and is considered an educational treatise about the individual’s place in society.