The French enlightenment and the emergence of modern cynicism / Sharon A. Stanley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stanley, Sharon A., 1977-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--France--Philosophy--History--18th century.

Political science.

Cynicism--History.

Cynicism.

Enlightenment--France.

Enlightenment.

History.

Philosophy.

France.

Physical Description:

ix, 225 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Cambridge University Press, 2012.

Summary:

"Sharon A. Stanley analyzes cynicism from a political-theoretical perspective, arguing that cynicism isn't unique to our time. Instead, she posits that cynicism emerged in the works of French Enlightenment philosophers, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot. She explains how eighteenth-century theories of epistemology, nature, sociability, and commerce converged to form a recognizably modern form of cynicism, foreshadowing postmodernism. While recent scholarship and popular commentary has depicted cynicism as threatening to healthy democracies and political practices, Stanley argues instead that the French philosophes reveal the possibility of a democratically hospitable form of cynicism"--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: Introduction; Part I. The Enlightenment: 1. Enlightenment as disillusionment; 2. Unraveling natural Utopia; 3. The dark side of sociability; 4. The leveling power of commerce; 5. Hermits and cynics; Part II. The Present: 6. From Enlightenment to postmodernism; 7. Disenchanted democracy.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781107014640

1107014646

OCLC:

757838237