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Science & Art Are Poisoning You | Rousseau's First Discourse Explained

How Intellectuals Corrupt Society

Johnathan Bi

Jun 15

Watch the Lecture

If you are a subscriber to this email list, you are exactly the type of person that Rousseau wants to warn with his Discourse on the Arts and Sciences:

Science is poisoning you; art is corrupting you; the burning of the Library of Alexandria is good; the printing press is bad; only a tiny elite should do philosophy; enlightenment destroys civilization ... these are the conclusions of Rousseau's (in)famous First Discourse.

How could one of the greatest minds of the enlightenment attack enlightenment while writing the greatest works of the enlightenment? Is Rousseau a hypocrite? And should we stop reading books altogether?

I hope you enjoy this week’s lecture, let me know your thoughts + feedback in the youtube comments!