The Dialectic of Rationality and Emotion in Rousseau's Religious Philosophy

Abstract

This study examines the dialectical relationship between reason and emotion in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy of religion by analyzing the foundations upon which he built his conception of faith and religious knowledge. It reviews the interpretations of scholars who argue that Rousseau privileged emotion over reason, as well as those who regard him as a rational philosopher, concluding that his religious philosophy is based on the complementarity rather than the opposition of these two faculties. The study demonstrates that Rousseau assigns priority to either reason or emotion according to the nature of the object of knowledge: self-knowledge and religious certainty rely primarily on inner feeling, whereas the understanding of the external world depends on reason without excluding the role of emotion. It further argues that Rousseau's objective was not to construct an abstract philosophical system but to establish a practical philosophy that serves humanity and leads to happiness and religious certainty. Ultimately, the study concludes that Rousseau's originality lies in reconciling reason and emotion as complementary sources of religious truth