Rousseau, the French writer and philosopher, is probably most widely known for his belief that mankind are "noble savages" when in a state of nature, and are corrupted when taken from this state and gathered into the crowds of society.

Rousseau's ideas about the education of the young have been enormously influential. He emphasized the need for exposing the young to a broad range of experiences: their minds and their bodies would be strengthened by being forced to deal with them. He was convinced that society would be reinforced by permitting politics to be infused by morality, instead of separated from it.

Rousseau, himself, acted the part of a "noble savage" by dressing simply; his ubiquitous fur cap was an emblem in the minds of many frenchmen. Franklin's appearance in a fur cap brought immediate comparisons to Rousseau.