Clarens in Rousseau’s Nouvelle Héloïse : an imaginary society based on a non-Aristotelian form of friendship

The article is divided into three parts. The historiographical premise shows how the final section of the Nouvelle Héloïse, in which Rousseau describes an imaginary society based on friendship, has been linked to the Social Contract and thus placed within the multifaceted tradition of republicanism in at least three ways. The core part focuses on Jean Starobinski’s pioneering analyses of the society of Clarens to shed light on the differences that separate Rousseau’s conception of friendship not only from Aristotle’s theory, but also from the view of friendship developed by Enlightenment thinkers. The final part examines how the fusional friendship between Julie and Claire comes to an end, by distinguishing Julie’s and Claire’s perspectives. If one focuses on Claire, it is possible to argue that autonomy and independence are preserved in friendship and through friendship.