Historical and social foundations of the Enlightenment
With recourse to rationalist and skeptical traditions and against the background of absolutist arbitrariness and failed attempts at domestic reform, political and philosophical, social, religious and general cultural criticism intensified during the 18th century. Numerous groundbreaking works could only appear outside of France or anonymously. The developing natural sciences that shaped the Enlightenment and their experimental methods also worked – as did empirical, sensualistic, and materialistic tendencies in French philosophy – in the sense of a critique of traditional ideological principles. Increased contacts of French writers and scholars with foreign countries (especially England) promoted the knowledge of different cultural developments and the insight into their autonomy and led among other things. on authoritative drafts in history and law. In connection with the discussion of other models of society and the sharpening of critical social consciousness there is also the enlightenment ideal of a humanization of society; In connection with the conviction of general scientific progress, this led to a belief in progress and philosophical optimism, which were characteristic of large areas of the French Enlightenment. After death In connection with the discussion of other models of society and the sharpening of critical social consciousness there is also the enlightenment ideal of a humanization of society; In connection with the conviction of general scientific progress, this led to a belief in progress and philosophical optimism, which were characteristic of large areas of the French Enlightenment. After death In connection with the discussion of other models of society and the sharpening of critical social consciousness there is also the enlightenment ideal of a humanization of society; In connection with the conviction of general scientific progress, this led to a belief in progress and philosophical optimism, which were characteristic of large areas of the French Enlightenment. After death as they were characteristic of large areas of the French Enlightenment. After death as they were characteristic of large areas of the French Enlightenment. After death Louis XIV (1715) shifted the focus of cultural life from Versailles to Paris. Literary, philosophical and political problems were raised in the salons (e.g. Claudine-Alexandrine de Tencin, Julie de Lespinasse, Louise-Florence d’Épinay) as well as in the cafes (e.g. Café Procope) and clubs (e.g. B. Club de l’Entresol) discussed.
Drama and novel until 1750
In the 18th century, French literature remained largely true to the formal language of the Classical period, but filled it with new content, in part it also broke away from aesthetic traditions. In the area of tragedy, A. Houdar de La Motte spoke out against the form of verse and uniform rules as well as the restriction to a repertoire of figures from the ancient mythological tradition; P. J. de Crébillon moved away from the classic model of “bienséance” and “vraisemblance” in favor of garish effects; the tragedies of Voltaire differed significantly from works of the French classical period (e.g. in »Œdipe«, 1719, German »Oedipus “;” Zaïre “, 1733, German” Zayre “).
In addition to the comedy in the successor to Molière (as with J.-F. Regnard), the development of comedy also revealed new approaches. In the comedies of A.-R. Lesage (e.g. in “Turcaret”, 1709) articulated a sharp criticism of morals and times. After preliminary stages with P. N. Destouches, P. C. Nivelle de La Chaussée developed the Comédie larmoyante, which deals with conflicts from everyday life with moralizing intent. The Comedies of P. C. de Marivaux ‘ (e.g. “Le jeu de l’amour et du hasard”, 1730; German “The game of love and chance”) are based on the portrait of psychologically nuanced figures and a subtle representation of slowly emerging love (“l’amour naissant”), whereby emancipatory tendencies are recognizable through the leading role of women in emotional matters and the class barriers of that time are overcome at least in a playful and suggestive way.
The 18th century novel found new ways. With realistically observed details he developed z. B. critical time references, so in the picarian novels by Lesage (inter alia “Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane”, 1715–35; German “Geschichte des Gil Blas von Santillana”) and in the psychological novels by Marivaux (including “La vie de Marianne… «, 1731–42; German» The life of Marianne «). A.-F. Prévost d’Exiles described in “Histoire du chevalier Des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut” (1731; German: “History of Manon Lescaut and the Knight Des Grieux”) the unconditionality of a (sensual) passion with the topos of the “femme fatale” which tears her lover to ruin, using sensitive elements typical of the time. The form of the letter novel was particularly popular with the public. Check philosophynearby.com to see more about France and other countries in the world.
The heyday of the Enlightenment
de Montesquieu pleaded with his epistolary novel “Lettres persanes” (1721; German among other things as “Persian letters”) by juxtaposing oriental and European values for cultural tolerance; At the same time, through the harem revolt in the homeland of the two Persian travelers, he indicated the liberation of women from the shackles of patriarchy. He shaped modern historical thinking by (unlike e.g. Bossuet) No longer understood history as the scene of divine providence, but based on geographical and social conditions. Likewise, his theory of the state (“De l’esprit des lois”, 1748) is not based on metaphysical foundations, but analyzes state systems in close connection with concrete climatic and historical circumstances, with the separation of powers (according to the model of the English constitution) proclaimed in the spirit of the Enlightenment and despotism is rejected. Like Montesquieu, Voltaire became shaped by the experiences of his stay in England; show this inter alia. his “Lettres philosophiques” (1734; German “Philosophischebriefe”) with its sharp criticism of French state and church life and, in general, its anti-metaphysical, deist attitude and its empirical basic position. Voltaire was in his philosophical as well as literary writings in the narrower sensea combative representative of the idea of reason, tolerance and progress and a bitter opponent of arbitrariness and fanaticism. In addition to his dramas, the small novels (e.g. “Micromégas”, 1752, German “Mikromegas”; “Candide ou l’optimisme”, 1759, German including “Candide or optimism”) vary moralistic and philosophical themes. In “L’ingénu” (1767, German including “Der Freimütige”), Voltaire adapted the nature idealizing topos of “bon sauvage” (“noble savage”) to his own ideas of enlightenment educability of man by following one from Canada France got Indians undergoing a positive transformation. He developed historiography into a literary form and expanded it into general cultural history; together with Montesquieu He thus paved the way for the philosophy of history and historical source research.
