Cruel Delight : Enlightenment Culture and the Inhuman

"An important contribution to studies of eighteenth-century culture and to literary history and theory and for those with an interest in horror, sentimentality, the invention of the modern individual, and ethics of 'the human.'" -Daniel Cottom, David A. Burr Chair of Letters, University of Oklahoma Cruel Delight: Enlightenment Culture and the Inhuman investigates the fascination with joyful malice in eighteenth-century Europe and how this obsession helped inform the very meaning of humanity. Steintrager reveals how the understanding of cruelty moved from an inexplicable, apparently paradoxical "inhuman" pleasure in the misfortune of others to an eminently human trait stemming from will and freedom. His study ranges from ethical philosophy and its elaboration of moral monstrosity as the negation of sentimental benevolence, to depictions of cruelty-of children mistreating animals, scientists engaged in vivisection, and the painful procedures of early surgery-in works such as William Hogarth's "The Four Stages of Cruelty," to the conflict between humane sympathy and radical liberty illustrated by the writings of the Marquis de Sade. In each instance, the wish to deny a place for cruelty in an enlightened world reveals a darker side: a deep investment in depravity, a need to reenact brutality in the name of combating it, and, ultimately, an erotic attachment to suffering.

"An important contribution to studies of eighteenth-century culture and
to literary history and theory and for those with an interest in horror,
sentimentality, the invention of the modern individual, and ethics of 'the human.'"

-Daniel Cottom, David A. Burr Chair of Letters, University of
Oklahoma

Cruel Delight: Enlightenment Culture and the Inhuman
investigates the fascination with joyful malice in eighteenth-century Europe and how
this obsession helped inform the very meaning of humanity. Steintrager reveals how
the understanding of cruelty moved from an inexplicable, apparently paradoxical
"inhuman" pleasure in the misfortune of others to an eminently human trait stemming
from will and freedom. His study ranges from ethical philosophy and its elaboration
of moral monstrosity as the negation of sentimental benevolence, to depictions of
cruelty-of children mistreating animals, scientists engaged in vivisection, and the
painful procedures of early surgery-in works such as William Hogarth's "The Four
Stages of Cruelty," to the conflict between humane sympathy and radical liberty
illustrated by the writings of the Marquis de Sade. In each instance, the wish to
deny a place for cruelty in an enlightened world reveals a darker side: a deep
investment in depravity, a need to reenact brutality in the name of combating it,
and, ultimately, an erotic attachment to suffering.

an Important Contribution To Studies Of Eighteenth-century Culture And To Literary History And Theory And For Those With An Interest In Horror, Sentimentality, The Invention Of The Modern Individual, And Ethics Of 'the Human.' -daniel Cottom, David A. Burr Chair Of Letters, University Of Oklahoma Cruel Delight: Enlightenment Culture And The Inhuman Investigates The Fascination With Joyful Malice In Eighteenth-century Europe And How This Obsession Helped Inform The Very Meaning Of Humanity. Steintrager Reveals How The Understanding Of Cruelty Moved From An Inexplicable, Apparently Paradoxical Inhuman Pleasure In The Misfortune Of Others To An Eminently Human Trait Stemming From Will And Freedom. His Study Ranges From Ethical Philosophy And Its Elaboration Of Moral Monstrosity As The Negation Of Sentimental Benevolence, To Depictions Of Cruelty-of Children Mistreating Animals, Scientists Engaged In Vivisection, And The Painful Procedures Of Early Surgery-in Works Such As William Hogarth's The Four Stages Of Cruelty, To The Conflict Between Humane Sympathy And Radical Liberty Illustrated By The Writings Of The Marquis De Sade. In Each Instance, The Wish To Deny A Place For Cruelty In An Enlightened World Reveals A Darker Side: A Deep Investment In Depravity, A Need To Reenact Brutality In The Name Of Combating It, And, Ultimately, An Erotic Attachment To Suffering.

Cruel Investigation investigates the fascination with joyful malice in 18th-century Europe and how this obsession helped inform the very meaning of humanity. James A. Steintrager reveals how the understanding of cruelty moved from an inexplicable, apparently paradoxical "inhuman" pleasure in the misfortune of others to an eminently human trait stemming from will and freedom