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Bláznova moudrost aneb Smrt a slavné zmrtvýchvstání Jeana Jacquesa Rousseaua
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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
First published January 1, 1952
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About the author
Lion Feuchtwanger
150 books265 followersLion Feuchtwanger was a German Jewish emigre. A renowned novelist and playwright who fled Europe during World War II and lived in Los Angeles from 1941 until his death.
A fierce critic of the Nazi regime years before it assumed power precipitated his departure, after a brief internment in France, from Europe. He and his wife Marta obtained asylum in the United States in 1941 and remained there in exile until they died.
A fierce critic of the Nazi regime years before it assumed power precipitated his departure, after a brief internment in France, from Europe. He and his wife Marta obtained asylum in the United States in 1941 and remained there in exile until they died.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2015
Feuchtwanger's books are immensely readable as works of historical fiction. Narrenweisheit is no exception. This time, it's Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the French Revolution. Although a work of fiction, Feuchtwanger conveys a lot of historical and philosophical content.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
His life is the main theme of the book, nonetheless Narrenweisheit is not essentially about him as a person, rather the philosophy he stands for and the repercussions his ideas had. As an individual, he's described as a weak conflicted man who was in constant quarrels with other philosophers. He sought loneliness, tried rather unsuccessfully to mingle with common folk and found refuge in a marriage with a simple, constricted wife. His behaviour in personal life was often contradicting his philosophy, e.g. he gave his own children into the custody of an orphanage while he wrote an authoritative book on the education of children. At least, he didn't hide this conflict as his 'Confessions' bear witness.
- Philosophy
Others are better qualified to represent his philosophy. Two quotes from wikipedia.com can stand in for the message, Feuchtwanger conveys:
Man as an individual is good but society is corrupting him, transforming man from the positive self-preserving 'amour de soi' into 'amour propre' which is artifical and designed to compare with and impress others.
The personal freedom ends where it violates the freedom of another human.
His ideas were heavily (mis-)used by all involved in the French revolution, be it the enlightened aristocrats or the extremist Jacobin Club of Robespierre. His work was open and vague enough to allow all kinds of interpretations and claims.
His philosophy is contrasted with other important contemporaries, namely Voltaire. While Rousseau supposedly fed the heart, Voltaire provided food for the brain and the intellectual spine of the revolution.
- Democracy
The French Revolution provided the base on which modern democracy developed. From a violent although rational start in 1789 things quickly degraded into 'la terreur'. Even the terror was justified in the name of the people. Through his protagonist Fernand, Feuchtwanger explains the internal logic. A weak democracy couldn't succeed against its enemies. To stand strong, injustice and drastic measures temporarily have to be accepted to establish a better society. Effectualy, the mob took over in the worst phases. The corruption of men by society is proven.
Feuchtwanger gives us another example for the corruption of men by society, the American struggle for independence which happened at end of Rousseau's lifetime. The aristocratic rule simply was replaced by the ruthless & rich dominating. No sign of the noble savages.
While there's no question about the superiority of democracy and the basic validitiy of the social contract, the inherent weaknesses of men pose a constant challenge to the good of society.
- Death & transfiguration
Rousseau's ideas were heavily romanticized by the French Revolution and successive generations, his personal life being transfigured with his introduction into the Pantheon. The weaknesses of the individual disappeared.
If there's one thing to be learned from this book, then it's the acceptability of weaknesses of individuals as well as of society as long as progress is made to the common good.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
His life is the main theme of the book, nonetheless Narrenweisheit is not essentially about him as a person, rather the philosophy he stands for and the repercussions his ideas had. As an individual, he's described as a weak conflicted man who was in constant quarrels with other philosophers. He sought loneliness, tried rather unsuccessfully to mingle with common folk and found refuge in a marriage with a simple, constricted wife. His behaviour in personal life was often contradicting his philosophy, e.g. he gave his own children into the custody of an orphanage while he wrote an authoritative book on the education of children. At least, he didn't hide this conflict as his 'Confessions' bear witness.
- Philosophy
Others are better qualified to represent his philosophy. Two quotes from wikipedia.com can stand in for the message, Feuchtwanger conveys:
Rousseau asserted that the stage of human development associated with what he called "savages" was the best or optimal in human development, between the less-than-optimal extreme of brute animals on the one hand and the extreme of decadent civilization on the other. "...[N]othing is so gentle as man in his primitive state, when placed by nature at an equal distance from the stupidity of brutes and the fatal enlightenment of civil man."
Man as an individual is good but society is corrupting him, transforming man from the positive self-preserving 'amour de soi' into 'amour propre' which is artifical and designed to compare with and impress others.
According to Rousseau, by joining together into civil society through the social contract and abandoning their claims of natural right, individuals can both preserve themselves and remain free. This is because submission to the authority of the general will of the people as a whole guarantees individuals against being subordinated to the wills of others and also ensures that they obey themselves because they are, collectively, the authors of the law.
The personal freedom ends where it violates the freedom of another human.
His ideas were heavily (mis-)used by all involved in the French revolution, be it the enlightened aristocrats or the extremist Jacobin Club of Robespierre. His work was open and vague enough to allow all kinds of interpretations and claims.
His philosophy is contrasted with other important contemporaries, namely Voltaire. While Rousseau supposedly fed the heart, Voltaire provided food for the brain and the intellectual spine of the revolution.
- Democracy
The French Revolution provided the base on which modern democracy developed. From a violent although rational start in 1789 things quickly degraded into 'la terreur'. Even the terror was justified in the name of the people. Through his protagonist Fernand, Feuchtwanger explains the internal logic. A weak democracy couldn't succeed against its enemies. To stand strong, injustice and drastic measures temporarily have to be accepted to establish a better society. Effectualy, the mob took over in the worst phases. The corruption of men by society is proven.
Feuchtwanger gives us another example for the corruption of men by society, the American struggle for independence which happened at end of Rousseau's lifetime. The aristocratic rule simply was replaced by the ruthless & rich dominating. No sign of the noble savages.
While there's no question about the superiority of democracy and the basic validitiy of the social contract, the inherent weaknesses of men pose a constant challenge to the good of society.
- Death & transfiguration
Rousseau's ideas were heavily romanticized by the French Revolution and successive generations, his personal life being transfigured with his introduction into the Pantheon. The weaknesses of the individual disappeared.
If there's one thing to be learned from this book, then it's the acceptability of weaknesses of individuals as well as of society as long as progress is made to the common good.
January 9, 2022
есть очарование в неспешности исторического романа, но надо же и совесть иметь
January 28, 2021
Nagyon jó a vége, viszont a közepén eléggé megszenvedtem, szerintem túl hosszú és nem is tiszta mire akar kilyukadni. A végén persze jó lesz és tisztázódik, ráadásul a végén alig bírtam letenni, azt sajnáltam, hogy vége.
Nagyon érdekes a történet maga, főleg aki érdeklődik a francia forradalom és felvilágosodás korabeli időkről.
Nagyon érdekes a történet maga, főleg aki érdeklődik a francia forradalom és felvilágosodás korabeli időkről.
September 21, 2025
Interessant zu lesen, spannende Perspektiven und Sprache :)
September 11, 2020
Zwar geht es um Rousseaus Tod, doch wird der Genfer Philosoph durch Feuchtwangers Darstellung erst so richtig lebendig. Europäische Geistesgeschichte als Unterhaltungsliteratur, die Lust auf ein tieferes Kennenlernen der Rousseauschen Gedankenwelt macht. Feuchtwangers Begeisterung für das Jakobinertum und damit implizit auch für das sowjetische Experiment lässt sich nicht wegleugnen, hat aber - im Gegensatz zur Humorlosigkeit aller und damit auch dieser totalitären Systeme - durchaus Witz.
July 25, 2016
„Înțelepciunea nebunului” de Feuchtwanger e despre ultima perioadă din viața lui Jean-Jacques Rousseau, în care stă pe domeniul unui discipol de-al lui, un marchiz, moartea filozofului și impactul pe care-l are opera lui în revoluția franceză.
Rousseau e prezentat ca un bătrân care iubește natura, prieten al poporului, dar cu toane de geniu, ascultător față de nevastă și orb când vine vorba de aventurile ei. De fapt, soacra e cea care ia deciziile practice (el nu are asemenea gânduri) și dacă se poate să se aleagă și ea cu ceva... Fiica ei o ascultă, e simplă, slabă de minte și singura ei preocupare sunt bărbații. Nu crede că ăsta ar fi un lucru rău (Rousseau e ucis de amantul ei care dorea să pună mâna pe manuscrisele filozofului, iar ea regretă că soțul i-a murit, dar e fericită că amantul i-a „dovedit iubirea” printr-o faptă atât de riscantă). Ea e atât de limitată încât nici n-o poți condamna pentru consecințele faptelor ei. Amantul e tipul de om descurcăreț și fără scrupule. Al doilea amant e fiul marchizului. Despre el se vorbește cel mai mult în roman, parcă ar fi protagonistul. Educat pe baza principiilor enunțate în Emile, se împrietenește cu Rousseau (ăsta ar fi un privilegiu) și petrec mult timp împreună, în natură. Totuși, nu se poate abține să îi înșele încrederea și calcă pe bec cu soția lui Rousseau :)) Bine, mai târziu regretă, se îndepărtează de amândoi, nu poate da seama ce ia plăcut la ea (nu e tocmai tânără), se simte vinovat și față de prietena lui, vecină de domeniu, cu care era așteptat să se însoare.
Pentru autoritățile care au constatat decesul, lovitura din tâmplă nu era tocmai de la contactul cu colțul mesei, în timpul unui atac de apoplexie, dar asta au scris în raport pentru că toți voiau să evite scandalul, ceea ce nu-l poate ajuta decât pe vinovat. Zvonurile circulau, dar s-a trecut peste.
Fiul marchizului (Fernand) se simte vinovat și pleacă fără consimțământul tatălui, în America, să lupte pentru independeță. Își lasă logodnica. Ea se mărită cu unul mai bogat (bravo ei). Mai apoi e vorba despre revoluția franceză și apar personaje marcante. Fernand se întoarce, face politică, îi merge bine, apoi intră în închisoare pentru că era suspect din cauza originii nobile. Fosta logodnică e văduvă acum și în final pare că vor fi împreună. Soția lui Rousseau trăiește cu amantul ei care a avut o afacere bună cu banii ei, dar după un accident n-a mai putut călări și avea grijă de cai. Karma. De atunci se poartă urât și după mai multe evenimente ajung și ei în închisoare. Finalul e deschis.
Rousseau e prezentat ca un bătrân care iubește natura, prieten al poporului, dar cu toane de geniu, ascultător față de nevastă și orb când vine vorba de aventurile ei. De fapt, soacra e cea care ia deciziile practice (el nu are asemenea gânduri) și dacă se poate să se aleagă și ea cu ceva... Fiica ei o ascultă, e simplă, slabă de minte și singura ei preocupare sunt bărbații. Nu crede că ăsta ar fi un lucru rău (Rousseau e ucis de amantul ei care dorea să pună mâna pe manuscrisele filozofului, iar ea regretă că soțul i-a murit, dar e fericită că amantul i-a „dovedit iubirea” printr-o faptă atât de riscantă). Ea e atât de limitată încât nici n-o poți condamna pentru consecințele faptelor ei. Amantul e tipul de om descurcăreț și fără scrupule. Al doilea amant e fiul marchizului. Despre el se vorbește cel mai mult în roman, parcă ar fi protagonistul. Educat pe baza principiilor enunțate în Emile, se împrietenește cu Rousseau (ăsta ar fi un privilegiu) și petrec mult timp împreună, în natură. Totuși, nu se poate abține să îi înșele încrederea și calcă pe bec cu soția lui Rousseau :)) Bine, mai târziu regretă, se îndepărtează de amândoi, nu poate da seama ce ia plăcut la ea (nu e tocmai tânără), se simte vinovat și față de prietena lui, vecină de domeniu, cu care era așteptat să se însoare.
Pentru autoritățile care au constatat decesul, lovitura din tâmplă nu era tocmai de la contactul cu colțul mesei, în timpul unui atac de apoplexie, dar asta au scris în raport pentru că toți voiau să evite scandalul, ceea ce nu-l poate ajuta decât pe vinovat. Zvonurile circulau, dar s-a trecut peste.
Fiul marchizului (Fernand) se simte vinovat și pleacă fără consimțământul tatălui, în America, să lupte pentru independeță. Își lasă logodnica. Ea se mărită cu unul mai bogat (bravo ei). Mai apoi e vorba despre revoluția franceză și apar personaje marcante. Fernand se întoarce, face politică, îi merge bine, apoi intră în închisoare pentru că era suspect din cauza originii nobile. Fosta logodnică e văduvă acum și în final pare că vor fi împreună. Soția lui Rousseau trăiește cu amantul ei care a avut o afacere bună cu banii ei, dar după un accident n-a mai putut călări și avea grijă de cai. Karma. De atunci se poartă urât și după mai multe evenimente ajung și ei în închisoare. Finalul e deschis.
August 30, 2011
Feuchtwangers Roman spiegelt die letzten Wochen des französischen Philosophen Jean-Jacques Rousseau wieder, die er fernab von Paris auf dem Schloss des Marquis Girardin in Ermenonville verbringt.
Spannend erzählt er von dessen Einfluss auf die französische Revolution bis hin zur Huldigung Rousseau's als Person durch das französische Volk, eingebettet in eine fast kriminalistische mystische Atmosphäre um den Tod Rousseau's.
Sicherlich nicht das letzte Buch von Feuchtwanger.
Spannend erzählt er von dessen Einfluss auf die französische Revolution bis hin zur Huldigung Rousseau's als Person durch das französische Volk, eingebettet in eine fast kriminalistische mystische Atmosphäre um den Tod Rousseau's.
Sicherlich nicht das letzte Buch von Feuchtwanger.
January 31, 2025
Das waren noch Zeiten - da haben Philosophen einen wahren Fankult ausgelöst. Feuchtwanger erzählt von den letzten Lebensmonaten Rousseaus auf dem Landsitz der Girardins - von der fanatischen Verehrung der Anhängerschaft - von den Auswirkungen auf die französische Revolution. Sehr lesenswert - allerdings hilft es ein wenig, wenn man auch die Schriften von Roussseau und Voltaire ein bißchen kennt.
September 18, 2011
Nettes Buch über die Aufklärung
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews