Jeanjacquesrousseau Quote by Robert Zaretsky
““Rousseau identified reason as the disease for which it pretended to be the cure.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Philosophy of Rousseau, Robert Zaretsky, 2015
Rousseau argued that reason, presented as a remedy, actually creates problems it claims to fix.
In simple terms: Reason can be a harmful disease masquerading as a cure.
Key Takeaway
Question the limits of rationality.
Themes
philosophy
critique of reason
human nature
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- personal decision making
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Enlightenment
rationalism
self‑deception
Questions to Reflect On
- When does rational analysis hinder intuition?
- Can emotion guide better than logic?
A Different Perspective
Reason alone cannot solve all human dilemmas.
