François Poulain de la Barre and the invention of modern equality

In a tour de force of intellectual history, Siep Stuurman rediscovers the remarkable early Enlightenment figure François Poulain de la Barre. A dropout from theology studies at the Sorbonne, Poulain embraced the philosophy of Descartes, became convinced of the injustice and absurdity of the subjection of women, and assembled an entirely original social philosophy. His writings challenging male supremacy and advocating gender and racial equality are the most radically egalitarian texts to appear in Europe before the French Revolution. In exploring Poulain's breakthrough, Stuurman sheds new light on the origins of the Enlightenment, the history of feminism, the emergence of rational Christianity, and the social and political implications of Descartes's philosophy. This groundbreaking work, the first comprehensive study of Poulain, brings to life the men and women of the Radical Enlightenment, who pioneered ideas about equality that would shape humankind to this day. Impeccably researched, cogently argued, and lucidly written, this is truly a masterpiece of scholarship. In A Tour De Force Of Intellectual History, Siep Stuurman Rediscovers The Remarkable Early Enlightenment Figure Francois De Poulain De La Barre. A Dropout From Theology Studies At The Sorbonne, Poulain Embraced The Philosophy Of Descartes, Became Convinced Of The Injustice And Absurdity Of The Subjection Of Women, And Assembled An Entirely Original Social Philosophy. His Writings Challenging Male Supremacy And Advocating Gender And Racial Equality Are The Most Radically Egalitarian Texts To Appear In Europe Before The French Revolution. In Exploring Poulain's Breakthrough, Stuurman Sheds New Light On The Origins Of The Enlightenment, The History Of Feminism, The Emergence Of Rational Christianity, And The Social And Political Implications Of Descartes's Philosophy. This Work, The First Comprehensive Study Of Poulain, Brings To Life The Men And Women Of The Radical Enlightenment, Who Pioneered Ideas About Equality That Would Shape Humankind To This Day.--jacket. The Making Of A Philosopher -- The Feminist Impulse -- Cartesian Equality -- The Power Of Education -- Reason And Authority -- Anthropology And History -- The Road To Geneva -- Rational Christianity. Siep Stuurman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 305-354) And Index. In a tour de force of intellectual history, Siep Stuurman rediscovers the remarkable early Enlightenment figure FranCois Poulain de la Barre. A dropout from theology studies at the Sorbonne, Poulain embraced the philosophy of Descartes, became convinced of the injustice and absurdity of the subjection of women, and assembled an entirely original social philosophy. His writings challenging male supremacy and advocating gender and racial equality are the most radically egalitarian texts to appear in Europe before the French Revolution. In exploring Poulain's breakthrough, Stuurman sheds new light on the origins of the Enlightenment, the history of feminism, the emergence of rational Christianity, and the social and political implications of Descartes's philosophy. This groundbreaking work, the first comprehensive study of Poulain, brings to life the men and women of the Radical Enlightenment, who pioneered ideas about equality that would shape humankind to this day. Impeccably researched, cogently argued, and lucidly written, this is truly a masterpiece of scholarship. Frontmatter Preface (page vii) Notes on Spelling (page xi) Introduction: Origins of the Enlightenment (page 1) 1. The Making of a Philosopher (page 24) 2. The Feminist Impulse (page 52) 3. Cartesian Equality (page 87) 4. The Power of Education (page 124) 5. Reason and Authority (page 159) 6. Anthropology and History (page 187) 7. The Road to Geneva (page 212) 8. Rational Christianity (page 245) Conclusion: Inventing the Enlightenment (page 272) Acknowledgments (page 301) Notes (page 305) Index (page 355)