The Enlightenment and the Intellectual Foundations of Modern Culture [Paperback]

Louis Dupre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

An eminent scholar of modern culture argues that the Enlightenment—the importance of which has been vigorously debated in recent years—was a more complex phenomenon than either its detractors or advocates assume.

“Ranging as it does over art, morality, religion, science, philosophy, social theory, and a good deal besides, [Dupré’s book] is a marvel of scholarly erudition. . . . Formidably well-researched, . . . [this] would make an excellent introduction to Enlightenment ideas for the general reader.”—Terry Eagleton, Harper’s Magazine

“This immensely readable book will cause readers to rethink the Enlightenment and to see its positive aspects. It will also add crucial historical perspective to current discussions of modernity.”—Donald Verene, Emory University

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ranging as it does over art, morality, religion, science, philosophy, social theory, and a good deal besides, Dupre's book is a marvel of scholarly erudition... Formidably well-researched, this would make an excellent introduction to Enlightenment ideas for the general reader." Terry Eagleton, Harper's Magazine"

From the Back Cover

"This immensely readable book will cause readers to rethink the Enlightenment and to see its positive aspects. It will also add crucial historical perspective to current discussions of modernity."-Donald Verene, Emory University --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300113463
• ISBN-13: 978-0300113464
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #759,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sweeping review, dense but accessible, January 25, 2009

By 

W. Chen (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Enlightenment and the Intellectual Foundations of Modern Culture (Paperback)

A panoramic survey of the philosophical landscape of the Enlightenment period (1648 - 1789), covering the sense of selfhood, art and aesthetics, morality, social theory, science of history, religion and faith during that period. The advent of modern science, particularly the mechanism of Newtonian theory, knocked down many of the medieval concepts about the cosmos, Providence, creation and human's place in the world, and ushered in rationalism as the mainstream thinking of the Enlightenment period. This does not mean key thinkers in this period were of one or similar stripe. They held different, and sometimes diametrical, views. Louis Dupre summarizes and comments on the views of key philosophical figures in this period, including Locke, Hume, Diderot, Rousseau, Leibniz, Lessing, Spinoza, Kant, and many others. The text is somewhat dense, especially for the uninitiated, but it is definitely accessible. Overall, it is a very good survey of the philosophical views of the period.