"The 18th-century French philosopher Rousseau taught that closeness to nature makes a man virtuous and wise. His theory was that the further mankind departs from the 'primitive state', the more selfish and egotistical he becomes. Disciples of Rousseau are quite hard to find these days, which is a shame, because they sound ideal for the Government's 'beacons of environmental excellence', the exciting new 'eco-towns'."