The Concept Of Nature As A Starting Point In Rousseau’s Pedagogy

Abstract

This theoretical essay aims at showing the importance of the concept of Nature in Rousseau’s pedagogy. Since he was influenced by his time and could not be considered naïve at all, Rousseau inverted the logics of the prevailing thoughts regarding the belief that everything turns out well in the hands of its author, thereby arguing that men are naturally good. What kind of goodness is this? If we are naturally good, which is the need for education? These issues, and others, are discussed in this essay. We also defend the education that respects natural development by using some of the aspects we have found in Rousseau’s Émile: or, on Education. Clearly, the concept of nature leads us to think about education and the model of society that is expected in the context of the eighteenth century.