Charles Borde

This chapter focuses on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's letter to Charles Borde in May 1753. Borde replied to the First Discourse with the Discourse on the Advantages of the Sciences and the Arts , to which Rousseau responded with his Final Reply . Borde then returned to the attack with a Second Discourse on the Benefits of the Sciences and Arts . Rousseau began, but did not complete, a second response. In his letter, Rousseau assures Borde that he has not forgotten Borde's kindness and that their literary dispute has not changed Rousseau's attachment to him. He then admits that out of all his adversaries, Borde was the only adversary of whom he was afraid, or rather the only one from whom he hoped for new enlightenment.