Abstract The figure of Socrates is ubiquitous in Rousseau’s work and represents the role of philosophy as well as the place of the philosopher in the city. This article first examines Rousseau’s various identifications with the Athenian philosopher in his Discourse on the Arts and Sciences and Discourse on Inequality via different topoi typical of the Socratic‐Platonic philosophy. Although Rousseau initially identifies with Socrates directly, he quickly begins to establish some distance. Later, Socrates and the philosophical pursuit of truth are set aside in favour of the figure of Jesus and a less rational truth. Some have seen this as the end of Rousseau’s identification with the Greek philosopher. Here, however, we maintain that the identification with Socrates and the reflection on the role of the philosopher continue in Rousseau’s autobiographical writings where he constructs a new identification, this time inverted, with the philosopher.