Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) was a key Enlightenment thinker whose ideas deeply influenced Romanticism. His philosophy emphasized:

1. Natural Goodness: Humans are inherently good but corrupted by society and institutions.
2. Social Contract: Legitimate political authority arises from a collective agreement, not force or hierarchy.
3. Emotion and Intuition: Valued feelings and personal experience over cold rationality.
4. Critique of Civilization: Argued that progress and modernity often alienate individuals from their true nature.

Rousseau’s focus on emotion, nature, and individualism made him a precursor to Romanticism. Works like Emile and The Social Contract reflect these themes.