Translation of La pensée française au XVIIIe siècle.
Bibliography
Bibliographical footnotes.
Contents
Literary doctines -- The society spirit -- The origins -- Rationalistic optimism and its consequences -- The consciousness of human diversity and complexity -- The experimental sciences -- The positive spirit: Facts and the lessons drawn from facts -- Philosophy -- Social ideas and life -- The resistance of public opinion -- The struggle against authority -- The dissemination of higher education -- The general inluence of philosophy -- The progress of the critical spirit and of incredulity -- Political unrest
