Abstract

PROFILI, Lelia E.. The Concept of Freedom by J. J. Rousseau. Eidos [online]. 2020, n.32, pp.231-250. ISSN 1692-8857.  https://doi.org/10.14482/eidos.32.194.

This paper will demonstrate that it is possible to identify the foundations of the philosophy of freedom that began with Kant in the work of Rousseau, specifically in his vision of an essential relationship between freedom and humanity. By means of a critical and hermeneutical method, the analysis focuses on elucidating the historical and philosophical meaning of the anthropological conception consolidated in his first two Discourses. The aim is to show that freedom acquires the unprecedented significance of becoming the principle of humanity and the ground that determines humankind's destiny. The results of this study suggest that this idea of humanity, defined by freedom, sets the basis for subsequent philosophical thinking and evidence the decisive importance of Rousseau for the modern consciousness of freedom.

Keywords : Autonomy; conscience; humanity; freedom; Modernity; Rousseau.

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