French Enlightenment and Its Others - The Mandarin, the Savage, and the Invention of the Human Sciences

This book explores the French Enlightenment's use of cross-cultural comparisons - particularly the figures of the Chinese mandarin and American and Polynesian savage - to praise of critique aspects of European society and to draw general conclusions regarding human nature, natural law, and the rise and decline of civilizations.

List of contents

Philosophy in the Seraglio The Wisdom of the East The New World and the Noble Savage The Last Frontiers The Varieties of Man An Indelible Stain The Apotheosis of Europe

About the author

David Harvey is an associate professor of History at the New College of Florida.

Summary

This book explores the French Enlightenment's use of cross-cultural comparisons - particularly the figures of the Chinese mandarin and American and Polynesian savage - to praise of critique aspects of European society and to draw general conclusions regarding human nature, natural law, and the rise and decline of civilizations.

Report

" the best overview of the French Enlightenment's engagement with diversity . . . This comprehensive and clear book should be read by everyone as a primer on the role of the Enlightenment in articulating the contours of many of the debates about diversity that still preoccupy us in the workplace, in law, and in the academy." - AHR
"Highly recommended." - CHOICE

Product details

• Authors: D Harvey, D. Harvey
• Publisher: Palgrave UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 06.08.2012
• EAN: 9781349433810
• ISBN: 978-1-349-43381-0
• No. of pages: 271
• Series: Palgrave Studies in Cultural and Intellectual History; Palgrave Studies in Cultural a; Palgrave Studies in Cultural and Intellectual History
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Cultural history; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; B, Cultural History, History, European History, Social History, Social & cultural history, History, Modern, Civilization—History, Palgrave History Collection, Modern History, Europe—History, France—History, History of France