Liberal Values: Benjamin Constant and the Politics of Religion (Ideas in Context, Series Number 92)

Professor Rosenblatt presents a study of Benjamin Constant's intellectual development into a founding father of modern liberalism, through a careful analysis of his evolving views on religion. Constant's life spanned the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, Napoleon's rise and rule, and the Bourbon Restoration. Rosenblatt analyzes Constant's key role in many of this era's heated debates over the role of religion in politics, and in doing so, exposes and addresses many misconceptions that have long reigned about Constant and his period. In particular, Rosenblatt sheds light on Constant's major, yet much-neglected work, De La Religion. Given that the role of religion is, once again, center-stage in our political, philosophical and historical arenas, Liberal Values, originally published in 2008, constituted a major revision of our understanding of the origins of modern liberalism. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 6 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 15 Introduction......Page 17 Previous scholarship on Constant and religion......Page 19 Childhood......Page 22 Edinburgh......Page 24 Paris......Page 29 Protestantism and the Enlightenment......Page 32 Brunswick......Page 40 Mauvillon, the new German theology and the idea of progressive revelation......Page 42 Constant's "The Spirit of Religions"......Page 45 Madame de Staël......Page 50 The see-saw policy of the Directory......Page 53 Catholicism and the need for "republican institutions"......Page 55 Catholic counter-arguments......Page 64 Constant during the Directory......Page 65 Jean-François de La Harpe......Page 70 Jacques Necker......Page 71 Joseph de Maistre......Page 73 The "Second Directory" and the renewed campaign for "republican institutions"......Page 74 Theophilanthropy......Page 80 Lessons of the Directory, William Godwin and Des Circonstances actuelles......Page 83 Napoleon and the Catholic revival......Page 92 Enlightened responses and the plan to "protestantize" France......Page 96 Charles de Villers......Page 101 Bonaparte's decision......Page 104 Portalis on the utility of religion......Page 108 The Concordat and the Organic Articles......Page 109 Friends and foes of the Concordat: from the Génie du christianisme to Delphine......Page 112 Constant's trip to Germany......Page 120 The sentiment/form distinction......Page 123 Return to Paris and the debate on a national religion......Page 126 Constant's political principles in 1806......Page 138 "Private judgement" in Protestant polemics......Page 146 Book VIII: "On Religious Freedom"......Page 150 The ‘‘Letter about Julie’’......Page 153 Adolphe and Cecile......Page 154 Correspondence with Prosper de Barante......Page 157 De L'allemagne......Page 160 Constant's Return To Germany......Page 164 The Spirit Of Conquest And Usurpation ( 1814)......Page 165 Constant's vacillations......Page 171 The problem of industrie......Page 174 On the Liberty of the Ancients......Page 178 The Commentaire sur l'ouvrage de Filangieri......Page 180 The "crisis" of the Catholic Church......Page 184 Religion in the Principles of Politics of 1815......Page 188 Catholic-Protestant wars......Page 192 Catholic dissensions......Page 201 The Society for Christian Morals......Page 202 The Mémorial catholique......Page 204 Protestant responses......Page 206 De la religion, volume I (May 1824)......Page 208 Charles X and "the invasion of the priests"......Page 217 ‘‘Dependent’’ vs. ‘‘independent’’ forms......Page 225 Constant’s philohellenism......Page 228 Joseph de Maistre’s view of the Greek ‘‘character’’......Page 229 Reviews of volume II......Page 230 The problem with industrie: Constant and religion seen from the left......Page 233 Charles Dunoyer's L'industrie et la morale considérées dans leurs rapports avec la liberté (1825 )......Page 235 The search for a new doctrine: from Jouffroy to Saint-Simon......Page 236 Saint-Simon's "New Christianity" (1825)......Page 238 Auguste Comte, Le Producteur, and the search for a new "spiritual authority"......Page 239 Constant’s ‘‘Overview of General Trends’’......Page 241 Constant’s review of Charles Dunoyer and the article on religion for the Encyclope ́ die progressive......Page 243 De la religion, volumes III, IV, V......Page 246 Constant’s final words......Page 248 The 1830 Revolution......Page 250 Constant's declining reputation......Page 257 PUBLI SHED TEXTS......Page 265 MANUSCRIPTS......Page 266 2. OTHER PRIMARY SOURCES......Page 267 PUBLI SHED......Page 271 Index......Page 282 Professor Rosenblatt presents a study of Benjamin Constant's intellectual development into a founding father of modern liberalism, through a careful analysis of his evolving views on religion. Constant's life spanned the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, Napoleon's rise and rule, and the Bourbon Restoration. Rosenblatt analyzes Constant's key role in many of this era's heated debates over the role of religion in politics, and in doing so, exposes and addresses many misconceptions that have long reigned about Constant and his period. In particular, Rosenblatt sheds light on Constant's major, yet much-neglected work, De La Religion. Given that the role of religion is, once again, center-stage in our political, philosophical and historical arenas, Liberal Values constitutes a major revision of our understanding of the origins of modern liberalism. Introduction Constant's education : the French, Scottish, and German Enlightenments The crucible of the directory years Napoleon, or battling 'the new Cyrus' Constant becomes constant : from the principles of politics (1806) to the spirit of conquest and usurpation (1814) Politics and religion during the Restoration (1814-1824) The 'Protestant Bossuet' : De la religion in political context (1824-1830) Constant's legacy. Helena Rosenblatt presents a study of Benjamin Constant's intellectual development into a founding father of modern liberalism, through a careful analysis of his evolving views on religion. In particular, Rosenblatt sheds light on Constant's major, yet much-neglected work, 'De La Religion'

Constant's intellectual development into a founding father of modern liberalism is examined through an analysis of his evolving religious philosophy.