Rousseau (Nicole Grady) My name is Jean-Jacques Rousseau. I was born on June 28, 1712 and died on July 2, 1778. Not only am I an author of The Social Contract, but I also am a striving musician. my philosophies influenced The French Revolution as well as the thoughts on things like education, politics, and sociology. I tabula rasa; that everyone is born with a clean slate. I believe that it is society that corrupts the innocent children. I put my faith into the general will of the people. I also think that society puts too many limitations on the behavior of individuals.