Early Enlightenment

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Content

In Northern Europe, the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries saw the first proliferation of the Enlightenment – a cultural movement characterized by its pleas in favor of toleration, its opposition to ‘prejudices’, its fascination with the results achieved by the ‘Scientific Revolution’ as well as by its proposals for societal reforms. Philosophers played a crucial role in articulating its program. In this course we start close at home, for it was Pierre Bayle, ‘le philosophe de Rotterdam’, whose attacks on religious prejudices and whose demands for toleration would serve later generations of enlightened authors as a major source of inspiration.

Next, we will turn to France, and to Montesquieu and Voltaire in particular. In France a new cultural phenomenon emerges: the philosophe, witty, sociable, and fiercely critical of received tradition. Many French authors start reading British philosophers, and in this course we will deal with both Berkeley and Hume, and we will wrap up this overview of the early stages of the Enlightenment with a discussion of the Scottish Enlightenment, including Adam Smith. In an accompanying (facultative) study group we will read one of Hume’s enduring masterpieces: Dialogues concerning Natural Religion.

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge is necessary. 

Language

English; lectures will be recorded.

Period

Bachelor 1,  block 1A; 29 August until 1 October 2022

Course guide & literature

For more information please consult the course guide. The timetables will be published by the end of July.