Condorcet: Political Writings

A revised translation of Condorcet's view of progress across history and his prophetic writings on women, slavery, freedom and revolution.

Steven Lukes (Edited by), Nadia Urbinati (Edited by)

9781107021013, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 April 2012

262 pages
22.3 x 14.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.47 kg

Nicolas de Condorcet (1743–1794), the innovating founder of mathematical thinking in politics, was the last great philosophe of the French Enlightenment and a central figure in the early years of the French Revolution. His political writings give a compelling vision of human progress across world history and express the hopes of that time in the future perfectibility of man. This volume contains a revised translation of 'The Sketch', written while in hiding from the Jacobin Terror, together with lesser-known writings on the emancipation of women, the abolition of slavery, the meanings of freedom and despotism and reflections on revolutionary violence. The introduction by Steven Lukes and Nadia Urbinati sets these works in context and shows why Condorcet is of real interest today as we reinterpret the meaning of Enlightenment, the very idea of progress and the founding ideas of social democracy.

Editors' introduction
Published works by Condorcet
Suggestions for further reading
Principal events in Condorcet's life
Notes on the texts
1. The Sketch
2. On slavery
3. On the emancipation of women
4. On despotism
5. On freedom
6. On revolution
7. Advice to his daughter and testament
Index.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], History of ideas [JFCX], Western philosophy: Enlightenment [HPCD1]