Book

The French enlightenment and the emergence of modern cynicism

Stanley, Sharon A., 1977-

Overview

\"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.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Political science France Philosophy History 18th century. / Cynicism History. / Enlightenment France.
• ISBN: 9781107014640, 1107014646

Item info:

1 item available

1 item total in all locations

Holdings :

Call Number	Copies	Material	Location
JA84.F8 S69 2012	1	BOOK	AUTOSTORE