Selected Philosophical, Scientific, and Autobiographical Writings (Volume 58) (The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe: The Toronto Series)

Marie-Geneviève-Charlotte Thiroux d’Arconville combined fierce intellectual ambition with the proper demeanor of the wife of a leading magistrate. Bemoaning her lack of a formal education in childhood, as an adult she read widely, studied languages, and sought out mentors among the scientific elite of the day. Always publishing anonymously, her works included moralist philosophy, scientific and literary translations, original scientific research, fiction, and history. Recently, a trove of unpublished essays and autobiographical writings from her final years, long thought to have been lost, has come to light, revealing her as a writer of insight, wit, and feeling. Edited and translated by Julie Candler Hayes The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe: The Toronto Series, volume 58 Cover 1 Title Page 10 Contents 12 Dedication 14 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction 18 Part One: Published Works, 1756–1783 40 Dedicatory epistle and translator’s note to Advice from a Father to His Daughter (Avis d’un père à sa fille, 1756) 42 Discourse on Chemistry (Discours sur la chymie), translator’s preface (revised 1775) to Lectures on Chemistry (Leçons de chymie, 1759) 47 Discourse on Osteology (Discours sur l’ostéologie), translator’s preface (revised 1775) to Treatise on Osteology (Traité d’ostéologie, 1759) 92 Thoughts and Moral Reflections (Pensées et réflexions morales, 1760; revised 1775), excerpts: 101 Dedicatory Epistle 101 On Self-Love 102 On the Passions 105 On Women 112 On Marriage 117 Treatise on Friendship (De l’amitié, 1761; revised 1775), excerpts: 119 Dedicatory Epistle 119 Introduction 120 Definition of Friendship 120 Friendship Based on Affinity 125 Discourse on Putrefaction (Discours sur la putréfaction), preface (revised 1775) to Treatise on Putrefaction (Essai pour servir à l’histoire de la putréfaction, 1766) 130 Preface to The Life of Marie de Médicis (Vie de Marie de Médicis, 1774) 143 Preface to The History of François II (Histoire de François II, 1783) 151 Part Two: Late Manuscripts, 1801–1805 158 Thoughts, Reflections, and Anecdotes (Pensées, réflexions et anecdotes, 1801–1805), excerpts: 160 “On Self-Love” 160 “On Marriage” 163 Untitled 168 “On Fidelity and Infidelity” 168 “On Liberty” 170 “The Story of My Childhood” 172 “On Plans” 213 “Examination of the Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau” 216 “My Memories” 223 “On the Single Life” 230 “About Me” 233 Bibliography 248 Index 258