stage of life
Rousseau was one of the first thinkers to present the growth of the child as a series of developmental stages. The Emile is divided into five Books representing infancy (Bk.I), early childhood (Bk. II), youth (Bk. III, adolescence (Bk. IV), and young adulthood (Bk. V).
Rousseau begins each book with an analysis of the child's natural capacities and challenges at that stage of development. He proceeds to give examples of appropriate teachings that will enable Emile to preserve his integrity and his amour de soi. (see para12_note1 above) so as to prevent him from becoming either a tyrant or a slave to those around him.