Original Sin or the Lack Thereof: Rousseau's Philosophical Anthropology

Original Sin or the Lack Thereof: Rousseau's Philosophical Anthropology

Presenter(s)

Jane Carney

Comments

1:20-1:40, Kennedy Union 331

Description

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophical anthropology finds its roots in deeply theological territory. At the heart of his philosophy is the belief that man is essentially good but becomes corrupted by the influences of society. His strong belief in the innate goodness of humanity therefore led him to question Christian doctrines that appear to contradict that natural goodness. This then led him to object to the doctrine of original sin. Rousseau’s interpretation of original sin, and his subsequent rejection of it, shaped his broader political and philosophical thought, and is thus a vital piece of understanding Rousseau’s broader normative theory. Because he grounded his anthropology in the explicit rejection of Christian doctrine, understanding the theological implications of Rousseau’s anthropology requires that we understand both the teachings that Rousseau rejected, and his grounds for that rejection. This project contrasts Rousseau’s understanding of original sin and theory of human nature with Catholic and Reformed formulations of the doctrine of original sin at that time. To do so, we particularly focus on what Rousseau says about sin, what Rousseau says the Catholic Church says about sin, and what the Catholic Church actually says about sin. We examine a variety of primary and secondary literature on historical Catholic and Reformed teaching on original sin, focusing on the documents of the Council of Trent. In doing so, we shed light on the origins of his thought and the implications of a theological reading of Rousseau. This gives us a richer understanding of Rousseau as a thinker in his own right, of the interplay between theology and political theory, and, most importantly, of the many ways in which we approach the topic of human nature.

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Project Designation

Honors Thesis

Primary Advisor

Ethan D. Smith

Primary Advisor's Department

Religious Studies

Keywords

Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

Institutional Learning Goals

Scholarship; Faith

Original Sin or the Lack Thereof: Rousseau's Philosophical Anthropology

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