Maurice William Cranston Poradie kníh (chronologicky)

In this final volume of a masterful biography, Maurice Cranston explores the tumultuous last years of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's life. It covers his significant works, including the Confessions, Dialogues, and Reveries, as well as his controversial religious beliefs and his infamous dispute with David Hume in England. Following the condemnation of Émile and The Social Contract in 1762, Rousseau fled Paris, seeking refuge in Neuchâtel and England, becoming a social outcast plagued by feelings of persecution. In his despair, he turned to autobiographical writing to express his innocence and integrity. This period of introspection led to some of the most enduring literature of his time. Cranston's portrayal is both sympathetic and balanced, detailing Rousseau's struggles with a blend of compassion and dry humor. The work is praised for its rich historical context within Europe's ancien regime, offering readers a comprehensive view of Rousseau's life and the societal pressures he faced. This biography is celebrated for its scholarship, capturing the daily life of Rousseau and establishing itself as the authoritative account of his legacy.

In the first volume of his trilogy, political philosopher Maurice Cranston utilizes original manuscript sources to chronicle Rousseau's life, from his humble beginnings in Geneva to his emergence as a renowned writer and composer by 1754. This biography is praised for its meticulous, calm, and reasonable approach, contrasting with Rousseau's passionate and tumultuous nature. Critics have described it as the definitive biography, combining scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling. Cranston's insights into Rousseau's early life are presented with a freshness that captivates readers, enriching their understanding of both the physical and intellectual landscapes of his formative years. The narrative is crafted with such poise that it renders Rousseau's early experiences as compelling as a picaresque novel, showcasing Cranston's fidelity to Rousseau's ideas and lived experiences. This work is considered a hallmark of Cranston's distinguished career, reflecting his expertise as a scholar and biographer. Maurice Cranston (1920-1993), a notable figure in political science, was a professor at the London School of Economics and received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his biography of John Locke, among other notable works.

Zdrvujúca kritika sociálnych pomerov vtedajšej francúzskej monarchie je ukotvená do širšieho kontextu úvah o ľudskom jedincovi jeho poslaní a smerovaní. Rousseau je nanajvýš skeptický voči pokroku ako jednostrannému smerovaniu k zdokonaľovaniu technických zručností a zvyšovaniu materiálneho blahobytu. Kritizuje tiež hlavný nástroj pokroku, vedu Tým, že študujeme človeka, stávame sa neschopnými spoznať ho, tvrdí a polemizuje tak s (už vtedy) prevládajúcim zameraním európskej civilizácie. V protiklade k rozumu vyzdvihuje úlohu vášne, počiatok nerovnosti vidí v súkromnom vlastníctve. Nerovnosť vzrastá a upevňuje sa súbežne s pokrokom ľudstva. Rousseauov výrok podľa ktorého „mravná nerovnosť, oprávnená len právom normatívnym, je opakom práva prirodzeného“ bol jednou myšlienkových rozbušiek Francúzskej revolúcie. Štylisticky vybrúsené dielko patrí k najvplyvnejším a najčastejšie citovaným filozofickým spisom všetkých čias. Každý kultúrny národ by mal mať preložené všetky diela zo zlatého fondu svetovej literatúry. O to zarážajúcejšie pôsobí, že toto dielo nebolo dosiaľ preložené do slovenčiny.