Professor of French Emeritus John C. O'Neal attended the 15th International Congress on the Enlightenment in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he presented a paper in French on Rousseau's rhetoric in his 1750 First Discourse (on the arts and sciences).
O'Neal claimed that while criticizing the falseness of rhetoric Rousseau also demonstrates a profound knowledge of it, enough to win with this Discourse the prize essay contest that launched his reputation as one of the most insightful and persuasive thinkers of his times.
Posted August 23, 2019
