Beyond Contractual Morality: Ethics, Law, and Literature in Eighteenth-Century France [Hardcover]

Julia Simon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2001 | ISBN-10: 1580460569 | ISBN-13: 978-1580460569

In light of contemporary debates over liberalism, and informed by the problems of contemporary democratic, pluralistic culture, Beyond Contractual Morality reexamines the roots of these current discussions in eighteenth-century texts. Enlightenment texts demonstrate the historical intertwining of political, legal and moral problems in their extension of social contract theory into various realms of private and public life. Specifically, these texts point to an over-reliance on the notion of contract to resolve ethical dilemmas. A range of issues and authors is discussed, including: the historical development of social contract theory from Hobbes to Rousseau; conflicting conceptions of education in Rousseau's writings; the rise of professional ethics; the concept of tolerance as discussed by Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau; the divide between the public and private realms in the writings of Charriere and Sade. Beyond Contractual Morality concludes with a reemphasis on the contemporary context of debate and proposes a defense of a revised version of liberalism that can take account of positive duties without sacrificing individual autonomy.Julia Simon is Associate Professor of French at the Pennsylvania State University.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JULIA SIMON is Associate Professor of French at the Pennsylvania State University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 238 pages
• Publisher: University of Rochester Press (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580460569
• ISBN-13: 978-1580460569
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,402,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.