Adam Smith and Jean Jacques Rousseau

Paper Summary:

Adam Smith and Jean Jacques Rousseau were both influential philosophers whose views shaped political and social thought for years to come. Each had a viewpoint specific to their discipline; which were both similar and divergent. This paper examines the writings of these philosophers including "Discourse on the Inequalities of Men" (1734), and "Social Contract" (1762) by Rousseau and "Of the Expense of the Institutions for the Education of Youth" by Smith to show how both believed it was the responsibility for the state to provide all citizens with education although they differ on their basic concept of what that education should be.

From the Paper:

"Adam Smith never married, historians believe, due to a disappointment in love in his teenage years. As a result, he remained focused on education, read and studied extensively, and became a widely liked and respected professor. His pique with his less-motivated colleagues comes out in "Wealth of Nations" as he notes that the endowments of schools and colleges have necessarily diminished more or less the necessity of application in the teachers " salaries evidently derived from a fund altogether independent of their success and reputation in their particular profession." He felt that, unless inspired by an excellent teacher, the students would be similarly disinclined to work on their education."

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