Introduction - Reading and Writing Rousseau 9
Introduction - The Infinite Forest and the Single Cave 15

Ⅰ.
The emergence of society

1.
Infinite Forest 26
2.
The First Passions 29
3.
The Origins of Language and Social Inequality 32
4.
Forest of Seasons 38
5.
Power Difference and Complete Transfer 44
6.
General Will 52
7.
Legislator 59
8.
The Iron King's Lies and the Lawgiver's Religion 66
9.
From Politics to Education 70
10.
The Impossibility of Citizenship and the Possibility of Humanity 82

The Way In - The Links of Natural Development 87

Ⅱ.
human education

11.
Educational Relationships 94
12.
Educator 100
13.
Imagination of the Infinite Forest 106
14.
Imagination and Reason 111
15.
Possessiveness 115
16.
Friendship 120
17.
Human Religion 125
18.
Restoration of the Infinite Forest 132
19.
From Education to Politics 139
20.
When I'm among the trees 148

The Way Forward - The Integrity of Family Education 153

Ⅲ.
The Life and Death of an Educator

21.
The Problem of Gender Difference 166
22.
Women's Education 173
23.
Emile and Sophie 180
24.
Julie and Volmar 187
25.
Educator Julie 195
26.
The Eternity of Educational Life 202
27.
Self-Education 211
28.
Writing about Walking and Self-Reflection 221
29.
Friendship Education 233
30.
He was a man who smelled like an extinct plant. 243

The Way Back - Ghosts of the Infinite Forest 251

Conclusion - Complementing Rousseau 259
Boron - Politics and Education in Primitive Society 266

Reference 279
Search 289

This book consists of three parts and a supplement.
Part 1 begins with a discussion of the origins of society, which Rousseau expanded upon through his study of the origins of language, and then discusses the human condition and society that have deviated from the state of nature, followed by a discussion of inequality and human development.
In Part 2, we will continue the discussion by reading the original texts of “Emile” and “Discourse on the Origin of Inequality among Men” to understand what education is in the context of human conditions.
The final third part presents the authors' thoughts on a true teacher, along with the content of Rousseau's "New Heloise" and other works.
It points out the limitations of Rousseau's time, which showed a discriminatory attitude in the content on women's education, and suggests things that we should think about through Rousseau in reality.
Here, the stories of Emile, Sophie, Julie, and Volmar in Rousseau's works allow readers to think about the role of parents as educators.


By addressing self-education and the honest revelation of Rousseau's walks and self-examination writings amidst contradictions and paradoxes, we can encounter the true nature of Rousseau's thought, which is reflective and full of friendship for others.
In this book, we discuss education in primitive society and present a perspective that allows us to think again about humanity.
In conclusion, we conclude by suggesting to readers the wisdom of supplementary teaching as a clue to better educational practices.
At the end of each section, we have organized points to ponder while reading the text under the titles “The Way In,” “The Way Out,” and “The Way Back.”
Here the authors summarize Rousseau's contacts with other thinkers and provide food for thought.

《Rousseau's Forest》 invites readers into Rousseau's thoughts with the delicate sensibility of an essayist, breaking away from the rigid academic format.
The reflection on education fostered by Rousseau does not reduce educational theory to a simple rational system, but rather reexamines it from the perspective of emotion, conscience, and practice, emphasizing its urgency and ethical responsibility, particularly through the metaphor of children suffering in an unequal society.
Rousseau was an educator who chose empathy and action over explanation in front of a child who was being hit.
This is the starting point of education that has not changed even after hundreds of years.
Rousseau's educational philosophy is not an ideal theory, but rather provides an attitude toward life that must be practiced here and now.


Through this book, readers will be able to gain a fundamental perspective on self-reflection writing and education while walking through the forest with Rousseau or alone.
This will also give us the opportunity to reflect on the limitless possibilities that students can discover.
True education is nothing more than the practice of nurturing oneself and others as 'human beings'.
Education, as a process of nurturing individuals who can transform an unequal society, what kind of attitude should educators possess? Through self-reflection and writing, where educators walk through the forest, reflecting and contemplating, without fear of failure, with courage, educators will be renewed and awaken to new educational practices.