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.