Jean-Jacques Rousseau on censorship [from Explaining Postmodernism]

Jean-Jacques Rousseau said:

“Considering the awful disorders printing has already caused in Europe, and judging the future by the progress that this evil makes day by day, one can easily predict that sovereigns will not delay in taking as many pains to banish this terrible art from their States as they once took to establish it.” (p. 106)

and

“hasten to tear down these amphitheatres, break these marble statues, burn these paintings, chase out these slaves who subjugate you and whose fatal arts corrupt you.” (p. 106)

For more on the meaning and implications of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s contributions to postmodernism, see my Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism from Rousseau to Foucault.

Information about other editions and translations is available at this dedicated page.

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