NEWTONO DĖMUO ROUSSEAU MĄSTYME
NEWTONIAN IMPACT ON ROUSSEAU’S THINKING

Summary/Abstract: The most prominent works of Rousseau are written in the field of political philosophy. However, the success of his model of social contract, Rousseau acknowledges, depends on pedagogics. The best way to proceed with it is to return to the natural sources. Rousseau literally brings Emile “back to nature”, goes to play in and study their natural environment. Playfully directing the kid, he as if makes experiments devoted for the gradual development of kid’s body and mind, finding out and emphasizing his own personal abilities. When approaching the adulthood, Rousseau switches to more spiritual teaching. In the Profession of Faith of Savoyard vicar, Rousseau distinguishes as his main predecessor “the illustrious Clarke” who, as we all know, was a friend of Newton, and mainly spread his outlook in metaphysics. Interest in ancients and criticism towards their contemporaries, emphasis on the free will within a fragile system hoping for a divine support also relates Rousseau and Newton. This opens up a new way in the interpretation of Rousseau through the lens of Newton, an attempt, hopefully, promising us the discovery of a whole new spectrum of colours in Rousseau’s thinking.

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