Russell on Romantism and Rouseau..before the lecture

These are some of what I think the main points to take from the chapters of reading for this week, but before the lecture. I thought this may be interesting to make as ti could show how different things can seem significant to different people.

The main points I felt were that from the later 18th century until now, art, literature, philosophy and politics are all influenced by the Romantic movement. Even those people who did not enjoy the way of thinking found themselves taking note of the ideas and being more affected by it than they first wished to be or though they were. Politics, through Rousseau, was connected to the movement from the beginning. In it's essential form, it is a revolt against ethical and aesetic standards.

The Romantic movement is the cultural background of most philosophical thoughts in this era, yet the beginnings of the movement were not philosophical in the slightest. Romanticism can be characterized mainly by its artistic and intellectual trends. The morals of Romanticism have aesthetic motives. The preference for Gothic architecture is an example of this. Romanticism emphasized intuition, imagination, and feeling. Romantics seemed to lean against a Catholic views, yet seemed Protestant in their individualisation outlook.

Romantics did not aim for peace and quiet, but a passionate life. By the time of Rousseau people were tired of safety and wanted excitement. A revolt of solitary instincts against social bonds is the key to philosophy , politics and sentiments in the Romantic movement. Love became conceived as a battle, with each attempting to destroy the other by breaking through protecting walls of ego. This was seen in the writings of Strindberg and D.H. Lawrence who wrote in this time.

The main figure to look at in the movement is Rousseau. He has been described as the father to the Romantic movement. Although, he is now not called a philosopher, he had great influence over literature, taste, philosophy, manners and politics. Since his time those who see themselves as reformers found either following himself or Locke. Sometimes the ideas would co-operate, other times have no connection at all. When writing about himself he liked the idea of being a great sinner and exaggerated this. Evidence shows he was destitute of all ordinary virtues.

He was born in Geneva and educated as an orthodox Calvinist. he had a poor father who worked as a watch maker and a dancing master. his mother died when he was young so was brought up by his aunt. He then left school at 12 years old to become an apprentice at various trades. When 16 he moved from Geneva to Savoy and visited a catholic priest asking to convert to his religion.

Most of his early years were spent as a vagabond and travelling on foot. But, in 1743 he became secretary to French ambassador to Venice who left all of the work to Rousseau but would not pay him. Rousseau preferred simple people, he married a simple woman who he then taught to read and write. He also sold his watch saying ' I no longer need it, I do not need to know the time.'

Cultured people of the 18th century still looked to him for his ideas though. In France he was greatly admired . La sensiblite, meaning proneness to emotion and emotion of sympathy, bu emotion must be direct and violent and quite uninformed by thought. Rousseau was democratic in his theories and tastes. He appealed to the already existing cult of sensibility and gave depth and scope it may not otherwise have.

Rousseau was known for having the tastes of a tramp. he disliked Parisian society. Romantics learnt contempt for trammels of conversation- first in dress and manners, then in art, love etc. Intellect was valued as the most effective weapon against subversive fanatics- manners are a barrier against barbarism.

So, what i am taking form these chapters is the idea that the value we place on the arts, literature and feelings has come from this era. It tried to go against the emphasis placed on the scientific thoughts placed on nature. The fact that we are all so social now is thanks to this this movement and the ideas of Rousseau. The movement in essence is aimed at liberating human personality from fetters of social convention and morality. Man is not a solitary animal.