The French Enlightenment and the Emergence of Modern Cynicism

Stanley argues that the French philosophes reveal the possibility of a democratically hospitable form of cynicism.

Sharon A. Stanley (Author)

9781107639690, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 6 March 2014

236 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.32 kg

“A masterful examination of the intimate relationship between democracy and cynicism. Stanley offers a trenchant critique of alarmist cries about the death of democracy at the hands of cynicism and boldly argues that cynicism is not only endemic to modern democratic theory as it was developed in the eighteenth century, but is also crucial to the health of democracy today. Elegantly written, Stanley’s book also offers a delightful and provocative reevaluation of Diderot as the true figurehead of the Enlightenment and an author who might have more to say to us, today, than his more famous contemporaries Voltaire and Rousseau.” – Louisa Shea, The Ohio State University

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 have 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.

Introduction
Part I. The Enlightenment: 1. Enlightenment as disillusionment
2. Unraveling natural Utopia
3. The dark side of sociability
4. The leveling power of commerce
5. Hermits and cynics
Part II. The Present: 6. From Enlightenment to postmodernism
7. Disenchanted democracy.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], History of ideas [JFCX], Literature & literary studies [D]