PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

 

 

HIS 449: The French Enlightenment                                  Spring 2013

David A. Bell                                                                          T 1:30 – 4:20, McCosh 48

 

 

Scope: The French Enlightenment was one of the most intensely creative and significant episodes in the history of Western thought. This course will provide an introduction to its major works. Each class meeting will consist of a two hour-discussion, followed by a 45-minute background lecture for the subsequent week’s readings.

 

Bibliography: The following books are available for purchase at Labyrinth Books on Nassau Street. Additional materials are available on line, through the Blackboard site for this course, or directly from the professor.

 

                Diderot, Denis. Rameau’s Nephew and Other Works, eds. Jacques Barzun,

                                Ralph H. Bowen. Hackett Publishing. ISBN 978-0872204867.

 

                Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondat de, Persian Letters, ed. C.J. Betts.

                                Penguin Classics. ISBN 978-0140442816.

 

                Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondat de,  The Spirit of the Laws, eds.  Anne

                                M. Cohler, Basia Carolyn Miller, Harold Samuel Stone, Cambridge

                                University Press. ISBN 978-0521369749.

 

                Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, The Confessions, ed. J.M. Cohen. Penguin Classics.

                                ISBN 978-0140440331.

 

                Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, Emile, ed. J.M. Dent. Everyman. ISBN 978-0460873802.

 

                Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, Politics and the Arts, ed. Allan Bloom. Cornell

                                University Press. ISBN 978-0801490712.

 

                Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, The Social Contract and the First and Second Discourses, ed. Susan

                                Dunn. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300091410.

 

                Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet), Candide, ed. Daniel Gordon. Bedford / St.

                                Martin’s. 978-0312148546.

 

                Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet), Philosophical Letters, eds. John Leigh,

                                Prudence Steiner, Hackett Publishing. ISBN 978-0872208810.

 

 

Schedule and Reading Assignments:

 

I.             Feb.5.                   Introduction. Organizational Meeting. 

 

II.            Feb. 12.                Montesquieu, Persian Letters.

 

III.          Feb. 19.                Voltaire, Philosophical Letters, letters 1-12; Candide.

 

IV.          Feb. 26.                Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws: Part 1, Part 2, books 9-12;

                                                Part 3, books 14-16, 19; Part 4, book 20 (pp. 3-186; 231-277;

                                                308-353.

                                               

V.            Mar. 5.                  Diderot and d’Alembert, articles from The Encyclopedia, at

                                                http://quod.lib.umich.edu/d/did/index.html: Preliminary            Discourse,

                                                Encyclopedia, Philosopher, Natural Liberty, Natural Equality,

                                                Geneva, Idol,  Magician, Cannibals, Mohammedanism, Slave Trade,

                                                Jew, Men of Letters, Mint (Frizzy), Map of the System of Human

                                                Knowledge; Browse  articles on Printing under “Category of

                                                Knowledge.”

 

VI.          Mar. 12.               Diderot, Rameau’s Nephew and Supplement to the Voyage of

                                                Bougainville.

 

VII.          Mar. 26.              Rousseau, First Discourse; Letter to d’Alembert.

 

VIII.       Apr. 2                    Rousseau, Second Discourse; Social Contract.

 

IX.           Apr. 9    .               Rousseau, Emile: Book 1; Book 2 through dialogue with gardener;

                                                Book 4, “Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar”; The Confessions:

                                                Books 1-3.

 

X.            Apr. 16.                Enlightenment Campaigns:

 

                                                Voltaire, The History of the Misfortunes of John Calas (online).

                                                Henri Grégoire, An Essay on the Physical, Moral, and Political

                                                Reformation of the Jews (online).

 

XI.           Apr. 23.                The Late Enlightenment:

 

                                                Diderot, contributions to History of the Two Indies, in Political

                                                Writings, pp. 165-214 (online); Condorcet, Outlines of an historical

                                                view of the progress of the human mind, selections (online)

                                               

XIII.       Apr. 30.                Debating the Enlightenment:

 

                                                Reill and Baker, What’s Left of Enlightenment?,   pp. 1-36, 115-128

                                                (online); Israel, A Revolution of the Mind, pp. 1-36, 154-198 (online);

                                                Samuel Moyn, “Mind the Enlightenment” (online).

 

 

Course Requirements:

 

  1. Two short response papers (500 words each). Each week, the professor will circulate a list of questions on the next week’s reading. The response papers should address one of these questions, or, if you prefer, a different question, agreed upon in advance with the professor. During the first two weeks of class, we will draw up a schedule for the response papers. When it is your turn, the paper should be submitted to the professor by e-mail by 6:00 p.m. the day before class (dabell@princeton.edu). The paper will be posted on the course Blackboard site, and the other students should read it and be prepared to discuss it in class.

 

  1. Short paper. 2500 words, due Friday, March 15, at 5:00 p.m. Students must choose from a list of questions circulated by the professor, or work out another topic in consultation with him.

 

  1. Term paper. 5000 words, on a topic of the student’s choice, due Tuesday, May 14. at 5:00 p.m. (Dean’s Date). Students must meet individually with the professor at least twice to discuss topics and approaches.

 

  1. Class participation.

 

 

Grades:

 

            In calculating the final course grade, weight will be given to the various course requirements roughly as follows: term paper, 40%; short paper, 20%; response papers, 10% each; class participation, 20%. However, these are only guidelines. The professor will determine the final course grade based on his overall judgment of the student’s performance.

 

 

Further Responsibilities of the Students:

 

Students are required to attend all meetings of the seminar punctually. If you must miss a meeting because of illness or family emergency, you must if at all possible inform the professor ahead of time.

 

Students will not, except under extraordinary circumstances, be allowed to miss the seminar because of conflicts with interviews, sporting events, or other scheduled events. Absences may result in a lowered course grade. In the event of absence due to illness or family emergency, students will be expected to bring a note from a doctor or dean to the professor.

 

Students will be granted extensions on written work only in the event of unavoidable and unforeseen absences due to illness or family emergencies, and on these occasions they must provide notes from a doctor or academic advisor. Extensions will not be granted because of conflicts with interviews, sporting events, travel plans, etc.. Please note the dates of the assignments, and plan your term schedule accordingly. Computer problems, including printer failure, will not be considered valid excuses for extensions. Assignments handed in late will be graded down.

 

 

Professor’s Information:

 

David A. Bell

 

Office: Dickinson 303 (third floor – take the stairs at the south end of the building, and make you don’t go too far and end up in McCosh).

 

Office Hours: Tuesday 10:00 – 12:00 a.m., or by appointment.

 

E-mail: dabell@princeton.edu