Naturalism and Unbelief in France, 1650-1729

This book shows how absolute naturalism, deciphering nature without reference to God, emerged from the inheritance, dynamics and debates of orthodox culture.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. From nature to God; 2. Reading the ancients and reading Spinoza; 3. Reductio ad naturalismum; 4. The passion of Malebranche; 5. Creation and evil; Conclusion; Bibliography.

About the author

Alan Charles Kors is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania. He taught at the École Pratique des Hautes Études and the Folger Library. He is also co-founder of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. He published the Encyclopaedia of the Enlightenment (2003), Atheism in France, 1650–1729 (1990) and D'Holbach's Coterie: An Enlightenment in Paris (1976).

Summary

Although atheism is a rising subject of interest today, the history of the possibility and emergence of atheism is less studied. This book will be of great interest to academics and non-academics with interests in free thought, theology, French culture, early modern Europe and the dissemination of ideas.

Product details

• Authors: Alan Charles Kors, Alan Charles (University of Pennsylvania) Kors, Kors Alan Charles
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 20.06.2016
• EAN: 9781107106635
• ISBN: 978-1-107-10663-5
• No. of pages: 336
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; History of Ideas, France, RELIGION / General, HISTORY / Social History, Religion: general, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, C 1600 To C 1700, C 1700 To C 1800