Rousseau's God : Theology, Religion, and the Natural Goodness of Man

**A landmark study of Rousseau’s theological and religious thought.** John T. Scott offers a comprehensive interpretation of Rousseau’s theological and religious thought, both in its own right and in relation to Rousseau’s broader oeuvre. In chapters focused on different key writings, Scott reveals recurrent themes in Rousseau’s views on the subject and traces their evolution over time. He shows that two concepts—truth and utility—are integral to Rousseau’s writings on religion. Doing so helps to explain some of Rousseau’s disagreements with his contemporaries: their different views on religion and theology stem from different understandings of human nature and the proper role of science in human life. Rousseau emphasizes not just what is true, but also what is useful—psychologically, morally, and politically—for human beings. Comprehensive and nuanced, __Rousseau’s God__ is vital to understanding key categories of Rousseau’s thought. "Rousseau's God offers a comprehensive interpretation of Rousseau's theological and religious writings, both in themselves and in relation to his philosophy of the natural goodness of man. John T. Scott argues that there is a complicated relationship between Rousseau's philosophy, on the one hand, and his theological and religious thought. This relationship revolves around two oppositions: first, between the attributes and psychological needs of natural man and social or moral man; second, between the criteria of truth and utility for evaluating theological and religious doctrines. In short, because the justification of nature through the natural goodness of man does not suffice for developed humans, Rousseau offers theological and religious doctrines which are less true than useful, psychologically, morally, or politically"-- Provided by publisher Contents List of Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1. Truth and Utility Chapter 2. The Theodicy of the Discourse on Inequality Chapter 3. Pride and Providence in the Letter to Voltaire Chapter 4. Psychic Unity and Disunity and the Need for Religion Chapter 5. Introduction to the “Profession of Faith” Chapter 6. The Theological Teaching of the “Profession of Faith” Chapter 7. The Critique—and Revival—of Religion in the “Profession of Faith” Chapter 8. On Civil Religion Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index