Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an influential philosopher from the 18th century, known for his ideas about education, society, and government. He believed that people are naturally good but are corrupted by society. His famous work, The Social Contract, argues that legitimate political authority comes from the consent of the governed, emphasizing the importance of individual freedom and equality. Rousseau also made significant contributions to educational theory with his book, Emile, or On Education. In this work, he proposed that education should be tailored to the child's natural development, promoting a hands-on approach to learning. His ideas have had a lasting impact on modern education and political thought.