Enlightened Pleasures
Eighteenth-Century France and the New Epicureanism
Will be published approx. on 6. April 2010
Book
Hardback
264 pages
978-0-300-14094-1 (ISBN)
Description
Novelists, artists, and philosophers of the eighteenth century understood pleasure as a virtue-a gift to be shared with one's companion, with a reader, or with the public. In this daring new book, Thomas Kavanagh overturns the prevailing scholarly tradition that views eighteenth-century France primarily as the incubator of the Revolution. Instead, Kavanagh demonstrates how the art and literature of the era put the experience of pleasure at the center of the cultural agenda, leading to advances in both ethics and aesthetics.
Kavanagh shows that pleasure is not necessarily hedonistic or opposed to Enlightenment ideals in general; rather, he argues that the pleasure of individuals is necessary for the welfare of their community.
Kavanagh shows that pleasure is not necessarily hedonistic or opposed to Enlightenment ideals in general; rather, he argues that the pleasure of individuals is necessary for the welfare of their community.
Reviews / Votes
"Informed by rigorous and original philosophical interpretations yet written in a style that is incisive, fluid and swift, this book is exactly what a book on pleasure should be: it leaves us completely fulfilled yet asking for more."-Elena Russo, Johns Hopkins University -- Elena Russo "Kavanagh makes a persuasive case for putting the literature and art of the Enlightenment in France in the context of Epicurean and Stoic philosophy."-Jay Caplan, Amherst College -- Jay Caplan "Scholarly, challenging, and pleasant at the same time."-Pierre Saint-Amand, Eighteenth Century Fiction -- Pierre Saint-Amand * Eighteenth Century Fiction *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
21 b-w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
586 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-14094-1 (9780300140941)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Thomas M. Kavanagh, the Augustus R. Street Professor of French and department chair at Yale University, is the author of Dice, Cards, Wheels: A Different History of French Culture. He lives in Woodbridge, CT.