From the publisher:

An artistic analogy–that of an old painting’s restoration–best describes Melzer’s excellent analysis and study of one of Rousseau’s key ideas: his belief in the natural goodness of Man. By systematically eliminating and disputing misinterpretations, glosses, and distortions, Melzer reveals Rousseau’s original historical and intellectual palette. Gone are 19th-century opinions and contemporary Freudian and Marxist theories. Rousseau’s paradoxes and contradictions become clear; as Melzer concludes, Rousseau’s views on human nature, religion, justice, and politics are far too narrow and skeptical if placed in the context of a social system. Melzer supports his study by referring to a large body of scholarship. Lucid, succinct, well organized, and convincing, this book is a solid contribution to the study of Rousseau.