Epicureans and Atheists in France, 1650-1729

This book describes how French Christian culture allowed the dissemination of Epicureanism, which denied divine design. In its wake, an assertive atheism appeared.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. Reading Epicurus; 2. The Epicureans; 3. At the boundaries of unbelief; 4. Historians' atheists and historical atheists; 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 has published the Encyclopaedia of the Enlightenment (2003), Atheism in France, 1650–1729 (1990) and D'Holbach's Coterie: An Enlightenment in Paris (1976).

Summary

Atheism is a subject of utmost interest today, but the history of the possibility and emergence of atheism is far less studied. This book will be of major interest to students of free-thought, theology, classical and patristic scholarship, culture, the book-trade, France, 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: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.11.2018
• EAN: 9781107584921
• ISBN: 978-1-107-58492-1
• No. of pages: 252
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: antiquity to present day; France, European History, HISTORY / Europe / France, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, RELIGION / Atheism, RELIGION / Agnosticism, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, C 1600 To C 1700, Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500, Agnosticism and atheism, Agnosticism & Atheism, C 1700 To C 1800