Enlightenment contested : philosophy, modernity, and the emancipation of man, 1670-1752

Jonathan Israel zet de lijn van Radical Enlightenment onverminderd voort. Iemand die zich ten doel stelt om de Verlichting te redden van de hedendaagse neiging om de verworvenheden (o.a. tolerantie, kritische houding, rationele argumentatie) ervan te ontkennen, kan niet genoeg gelezen worden. Het leuke van Enlightenment Contested is de verrassende (en verfrissende) debunking van een groot aantal heilige huizen. Israel zet de Gematigde Verlichting neer voor wat het is; een onhoudbare (en afgemeten aan de criteria die heden als richtinggevend worden beschouwd, onsuccesvolle) poging om rationaliteit en welke vorm van religieuze openbaring dan ook met elkaar te verenigen. Onder de mokerslagen van zijn kritiek sneuvelen een aantal reputaties die voorheen onaantastbaar leken. John Locke's gematigde tolerantie wordt verworpen als onhoudbaar ten faveure van tolerantie volgens m.n. Spinoza, Bayle en Diderot. Israel toont aan dat op Newton's natuurkundig-theologisch systeem na 1700 al fundamentele radicale kritiek was (ook bijvoorbeeld door de gematigde Leibnitz), in weerwil van de bijna onaantastbare status van Newton op het continent. Ook de grote pleitbezorger van Newton, Voltaire, wordt door Israel in het rijtje van de Gematigden geplaatst. Dat Voltaire zich in de strijd om de publicatie van Diderot's Encyclopedie zich gedwongen zag dit radicale project licht knarsetandend te verdedigen, doet niet af aan de fikse deuk die het imago van deze voorheen exemplarische Verlichter oploopt. Israel is ook in dit 2de deel van de geplande triologie weer volstrekt helder wat zijn agenda is. In Enlightenment Contested polemiseert hij met hedendaagse anti-verlichters als MacIntyre, Taylor en Gray en toont aan waarom hun opvattingen over de Verlichting als legitimering van intolerantie en kolonialisme getuigen van weinig historische kennis, gedateerde interpretaties en vooral het nalaten een onderscheid tussen de actuele geldigheid van de ideeen van de radicale Verlichting en die van de gematigde Verlichting te maken. De voornaamste kritiek op dit boek is dan ook vooral redactioneel van aard. In zijn ijver en streven naar volledigheid is er teveel overlap in het boek zelf en met Radical Enlightenment. Het wordt wel eens vermoeiend om bij elke theologische of filosofische haarkloverij die door Israel wordt opgevoerd weer die hele lijst van namen langs te zien komen. Dit gezegd hebbend, ben ik erg benieuwd naar deel 3. Hopelijk wordt daarin voldoende plaats ingeruimd voor de gedeelde wortels van de Verlichting en de Romantiek. Israel kennende zal daarin ruim voorzien worden. Deel 3, bring it on!" List of Plates p. xviii List of Figures p. xx Abbreviations of Library and Archive Locations p. xxi Other Abbreviations p. xxiii Part I Introductory 1 Early Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Modern Age p. 3 1 Ancien Regime and Revolution p. 3 2 Historians and the Writing of 'Intellectual History' p. 15 3 L'Esprit philosophique p. 26 2 Philosophy and the Making of Modernity p. 43 1 Spinoza and Spinozism in the Radical Enlightenment p. 43 2 Locke, Hume, and the Making of Modernity p. 51 Part II The Crisis of Religious Authority 3 Faith and Reason: Bayle versus the Rationaux p. 63 1 Europe's Religious Crisis p. 63 2 Consensus gentium and the Philosophes p. 71 3 Voltaire and the Eclipse of Bayle p. 85 4 Demolishing Priesthood, Ancient and Modern p. 94 5 Socinianism and the Social, Psychological, and Cultural Roots of Enlightenment p. 115 6 Locke, Bayle, and Spinoza: A Contest of Three Toleration Doctrines p. 135 1 Toleration from Locke to Barbeyrac p. 135 2 Bayle's Freedom of Conscience p. 145 3 Spinoza's Liberty of Thought and Expression p. 155 7 Germany and the Baltic: Enlightenment, Society, and the Universities p. 164 1 The Problem of 'Atheism' p. 164 2 Academic Disputations and the Making of German Radical Thought p. 175 3 An Alternative Route? Johann Lorenz Schmidt and 'Left' Wolffian Radicalism p. 188 4 Natural Theology, Natural Law, and the Radical Challenge p. 194 8 Newtonianism and Anti-Newtonianism in the Early Enlightenment: Science, Philosophy, and Religion p. 201 1 English Physico-theology p. 201 2 From 's-Gravesande to d'Alembert (1720-1750) p. 215 Part III Political Emancipation 9 Anti-Hobbesianism and the Making of 'Modernity' p. 225 10 The Origins of Modern Democratic Republicanism p. 240 1 Classical Republicanism versus Democratic Republicanism p. 240 2 Democracy in Radical Thought p. 249 11 Bayle, Boulainvilliers, Montesquieu: Secular Monarchy versus the Aristocratic Republic p. 264 1 Bayle's Politics p. 264 2 Early Enlightenment French Political Thought p. 278 3 The Ideal of Mixed Monarchy p. 287 12 'Enlightened Despotism': Autocracy, Faith, and Enlightenment in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (1689-1755) p. 295 1 Peter the Great's 'Revolution' (1689-1725) p. 295 2 Europe and the Russian Enlightenment (1725-1755) p. 309 3 Locke, Newton, and Leibniz in the Greek Cultural Diaspora p. 317 13 Popular Sovereignty, Resistance, and the 'Right to Revolution' p. 326 14 Anglomania, Anglicisme, and the 'British Model' p. 344 1 English Deism and the Recoil from Radicalism p. 344 2 French Anglicisme p. 356 3 Anglicisme and Anti-anglicisme in the Mid Eighteenth Century p. 364 15 The Triumph of the 'Moderate Enlightenment' in the United Provinces p. 372 1 The Defeat of Dutch Radical Thought: The Social Context p. 372 2 Intellectual Realignment within the Huguenot Diaspora p. 386 3 The Orangist Restoration (1747-1751) p. 396 Part IV Intellectual Emancipation 16 The Overthrow of Humanist Criticism p. 409 1 Ars critica p. 409 2 Secularization of the Sacred p. 421 3 Man and Myth p. 427 17 The Recovery of Greek Thought p. 436 1 'Rationalizing the Gods': Disputing Xenophanes p. 436 2 Strato, Spinoza, and the Philosophes p. 444 3 Spinozism: A Reworking of Greek Stoicism? p. 457 18 The Rise of 'History of Philosophy' p. 471 1 Pre-Enlightenment 'History of Philosophy' p. 471 2 German Eclecticism and the Rise of a New Discipline p. 476 3 'Radical Renaissance' p. 481 19 From 'History of Philosophy' to History of l'Esprit humain p. 496 1 Fontenelle, Boulainvilliers, and 'l'histoire de l'esprit humain' p. 496 2 Diderot and the History of Human Thought p. 504 20 Italy, the Two Enlightenments, and Vico's 'New Science' p. 513 1 Italy Embraces the Mainstream Enlightenment p. 513 2 Vico's 'Divine Providence' p. 528 3 A Restored Italo-Greek Wisdom? p. 537 Part V The Party of Humanity 21 The Problem of Equality p. 545 1 Enlightenment and Basic Equality p. 545 2 Aristocracy, Radical Thought, and Educational Reform p. 563 22 Sex, Marriage, and the Equality of Women p. 572 1 Cartesianism and Female Equality p. 572 2 Marriage, Chastity, and Prostitution p. 576 3 The Erotic Emancipation of Woman, and Man p. 582 23 Race, Radical Thought, and the Advent of Anti-colonialism p. 590 1 Enlightenment against Empire p. 590 2 Slavery and the Early Enlightenment p. 603 3 Empire and National Identity p. 609 24 Rethinking Islam: Philosophy and the 'Other' p. 615 1 Islam and Toleration p. 615 2 Bayle and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) p. 620 3 Ibn Tufayl and the Hidden Wisdom of the East p. 628 4 The Clandestine 'Enlightenment' of the Zindikites p. 631 25 Spinoza, Confucius, and Classical Chinese Philosophy p. 640 1 China and Spinozismus ante Spinozam p. 640 2 Leibniz, Wolff, and Chinese prisca theologia p. 652 3 Voltaire, Montesquieu, and China p. 657 26 Is Religion Needed for a Well-Ordered Society? p. 663 1 Separating Morality from Theology p. 663 2 'Moderate' Enlightenment Deist Morality p. 681 3 Radical Thought and the Construction of a Secular Morality p. 692 Part VI Radical Philosophes 27 The French Enlightenment Prior to Voltaire's Lettres philosophiques (1734) p. 699 1 The Post-1715 Reaction to Absolutism p. 699 2 The Materialist Challenge p. 712 3 Clandestinity p. 722 28 Men, Animals, Plants, and Fossils: French Hylozoic Materialisme before Diderot p. 733 29 Realigning the Parti philosophique: Voltaire, Voltairianisme, Antivoltairianisme (1732-1745) p. 751 1 Voltaire's Enlightenment p. 751 2 The Defeat of Voltaire and the French 'Newtonians' p. 762 3 Breakdown of the Lockean-Newtonian Synthesis p. 772 30 From Voltaire to Diderot p. 781 31 The 'Unvirtuous Atheist' p. 794 1 The 'Affaire La Mettrie' (1745-1752) p. 794 2 Atheistic Amoralism p. 803 32 The Parti philosophique Embraces the Radical Enlightenment p. 814 1 Radicalization of the Diderot Circle p. 814 2 The 'Quarrel' of the Esprit des lois (1748-1752) p. 824 33 The 'War of the Encyclopedie': The First Stage (1746-1752) p. 840 34 Postscript p. 863 Bibliography p. 872 Index p. 955 This Is A Managerial Survey And Reinterpretation Of The Enlightenment. The Text Offers An Assessment Of The Nature And Development Of The Important Currents In Philosophical Thinking Arguing That Supposed National Enlightenments Are Of Less Significance Than The Rift Between Conservative And Radical Thought. I: Introductory -- 1. Early Enlightenment, Revolution, And The Modern Age -- 2. Philosophy And The Making Of Modernity -- Ii: The Crisis Of Religious Authority -- 3. Faith And Reason: Bayle Versus The Rationaux -- 4. Demolishing Priesthood, Ancient And Modern -- 5. Socinianism And The Social, Psychological, And Cultural Roots Of Enlightenment -- 6. Locke, Bayle, And Spinoza: A Contest Of Three Toleration Doctrines -- 7. Germany And The Baltic: Enlightenment, Society, And The Universities -- 8. Newtonianism And Anti-newtonianism In The Early Enlightenment: Science, Philosophy, And Religion -- Iii: Political Emancipation -- 9. Anit-hobbesianism And The Making Of 'modernity' -- 10. The Origins Of Modern Democratic Republicanism -- 11. Bayle, Boulainvilliers, Montesquieu: Secular Monarchy Versus The Aristocratic Republic -- 12. 'enlightened Despotism': Autocracy, Faith, And Enlightenment In Eastern And South-eastern Europe 1689-1755 --^ 13. Popular Sovereignty, Resistance, And The 'right To Revolution' -- 14. Anglomania, Anglicisme, And The 'british Model' -- 15. The Triumph Of The 'moderate Enlightenment' In The United Provinces -- Iv: Intellectual Emancipation -- 16. The Overthrow Of Humanist Criticism -- 17. The Recovery Of Greek Thought -- 18. The Rise Of 'history Of Philosophy' -- 19. From 'history Of Philosophy' To Histoire De L'esprit Humain -- 20. Italy, The Two Enlightenments, And Vico's 'new Science' -- V: The Party Of Humanity -- 21. The Problem Of Equality -- 22. Sex, Marriage, And The Equality Of Women -- 23. Race, Radical Thought, And The Advent Of Anti-colonialism -- 24. Rethinking Islam: Philosophy And The 'other' -- 25. Spinoza, Confucius, And Classical Chinese Philosophy -- 26. Is Religion Requisite For A Well-ordered Society? -- Vi: Radical Philosophes -- 27. The French Enlightenment Prior To Voltaire's Lettres Philosophiques (1734) --^ 28. Men, Animals, Fossils: French Hylozoic Materialisme Before Diderot -- 29. Realigning Of The Parti Philosophique: Voltair, Voltairemanie, Antivoltairianisme 1733-1747 -- 30. From Voltaire To Diderot -- 31. The 'unvirtuous Atheist' -- 32. The Parti Philosophique Embraces The Radical Enlightenment 1747-1752 -- 33. The 'war Of The Encyclopedie: The First Stage 1745-1752 -- 34. Postscript -- Bibliography -- Index. Jonathan I. Israel. Originally Published: 2006. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [872]-953) And Index. Jonathan Israel presents the first major reassessment of the Western Enlightenment for a generation. Continuing the story he began in the best-selling Radical Enlightenment, and now focusing his attention on the first half of the eighteenth century, he returns to the original sources to offer a groundbreaking new perspective on the nature and development of the most important currents in modern thought. Israel traces many of the core principles of Western modernity to their roots in the social, political, and philosophical ferment of this period: the primacy of reason, democracy, racial equality, feminism, religious toleration, sexual emancipation, and freedom of expression. He emphasizes the dual character of the Enlightenment, and the bitter struggle between on the one hand a generally dominant, anti-democratic mainstream, supporting the monarchy, aristocracy, and ecclesiastical authority, and on the other a largely repressed democratic, republican, and'materialist'radical fringe. He also contends that the supposedly separate French, British, German, Dutch, and Italian enlightenments interacted to such a degree that their study in isolation gives a hopelessly distorted picture. A work of dazzling and highly accessible scholarship, Enlightenment Contested will be the definitive reference point for historians, philosophers, and anyone engaged with this fascinating period of human development. Jonathan Israel presents the first major reassessment of the Western Enlightenment for a generation. Continuing the story he began in the best-selling Radical Enlightenment , and now focusing his attention on the first half of the eighteenth century, he returns to the original sources to offer a groundbreaking new perspective on the nature and development of the most important currents in modern thought. Israel traces many of the core principles of Western modernity to their roots in the social, political, and philosophical ferment of this the primacy of reason, democracy, racial equality, feminism, religious toleration, sexual emancipation, and freedom of expression. He emphasizes the dual character of the Enlightenment, and the bitter struggle between on the one hand a generally dominant, anti-democratic mainstream, supporting the monarchy, aristocracy, and ecclesiastical authority, and on the other a largely repressed democratic, republican, and "materialist" radical fringe. He also contends that the supposedly separate French, British, German, Dutch, and Italian enlightenments interacted to such a degree that their study in isolation gives a hopelessly distorted picture. A work of dazzling and highly accessible scholarship, Enlightenment Contested will be the definitive reference point for historians, philosophers, and anyone engaged with this fascinating period of human development. The author presents the first major reassessment of the Western Enlightenment for a generation. Continuing the story he began in Radical Enlightenment, and now focusing his attention on the first half of the 18th century, he returns to the original sources to offer a new perspective on the nature and development of the most important currents in modern thought. The author traces many of the core principles of Western modernity to their roots in the social, political, and philosophical ferment of this period: the primacy of reason, democracy, racial equality, feminism, religious toleration, sexual emancipation, and freedom of expression. He emphasizes the dual character of the Enlightenment and the bitter struggle between, on the one hand, a generally dominant, anti-democratic mainstream, supporting the monarchy, aristocracy, and ecclesiastical authority, and on the other a largely repressed democratic, republican, and ‘materialist’ radical fringe. He also contends that the supposedly separate French, British, German, Dutch, and Italian enlightenments interacted to such a degree that their study in isolation gives a hopelessly distorted picture. The first major reassessment of the Western Enlightenment for a generation. Continuing the story he began in Radical Enlightenment, Jonathan Israel now focuses on the first half of the eighteenth century. He traces to their roots the core principles of Western modernity: the primacy of reason, democracy, racial equality, feminism, religious toleration, sexual emancipation, and freedom of expression. - ;Jonathan Israel presents the first major reassessment of the Western Enlightenment for a generation. Continuing the story he began in the best-selling Radical Enlightenment, and now focusing his Presenting a reassessment of the Western Enlightenment for a generation, this book focuses on the first half of the eighteenth century. It aims to trace to their roots the core principles of Western modernity: the primacy of reason, democracy, racial equality, feminism, religious toleration, sexual emancipation, and freedom of expression." - Dawson Even a cursory study of the French Revolution will soon convince an attentive student that the ideology and rhetoric of revolution in late eighteenth-century Europe, and not least the slogans-'liberty', 'equality', and 'fraternity'-were very intimately con