The French Enlightenment and its Others: The Mandarin, the Savage, and the Invention of the Human Sciences (Palgrave Studies in Cultural and Intellectual History)

is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world.Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. This book explores the French Enlightenment's use of cross-cultural comparisons--particularly the figures of the Chinese mandarin and American and Polynesian savage- to praise of critique aspects of European society and to draw general conclusions regarding human nature, natural law, and the rise and decline of civilizations. Following such comparisons across a variety of contexts over the course of the eighteenth century, David Harvey concludes that by the eve of the French Revolution, thinkers had mobilized cross-cultural comparisons in order to articulate a vision of Europe's identity and place in the world, defining it both as civilized and also as dynamic and progressive This book explores the French Enlightenment's use of cross-cultural comparisons7particularly the figures of the Chinese mandarin and American and Polynesian savage- to praise of critique aspects of European society and to draw general conclusions regarding human nature, natural law, and the rise and decline of civilizations. Following such comparisons across a variety of contexts over the course of the eighteenth century, David Harvey concludes that by the eve of the French Revolution, thinkers had mobilized cross-cultural comparisons in order to articulate a vision of Europe's identity and place in the world, defining it both as civilized and also as dynamic and progressive Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-9 Philosophy in the Seraglio: Orientalism and the Enlightenment....Pages 11-40 The Wisdom of the East: Enlightenment Perspectives on China....Pages 41-68 The New World and the Noble Savage....Pages 69-95 The Last Frontiers....Pages 97-123 The Varieties of Man: Racial Theory between Climate and Heredity....Pages 125-153 “An Indelible Stain”: Slavery and the Colonial Enlightenment....Pages 155-182 The Apotheosis of Europe....Pages 183-211 Conclusion....Pages 213-220 Back Matter....Pages 221-271 Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 10 1 Philosophy in the Seraglio: Orientalism and the Enlightenment 19 2 The Wisdom of the East: Enlightenment Perspectives on China 49 3 The New World and the Noble Savage 77 4 The Last Frontiers 104 5 The Varieties of Man: Racial Theory between Climate and Heredity 131 6 “An Indelible Stain”: Slavery and the Colonial Enlightenment 160 7 The Apotheosis of Europe 188 Conclusion 217 Notes 225 Bibliography 252 Index 268 This Book Explores The French Enlightenment's Use Of Cross-cultural Comparisons - Particularly The Figures Of The Chinese Mandarin And American And Polynesian Savage - To Praise Of Critique Aspects Of European Society And To Draw General Conclusions Regarding Human Nature, Natural Law, And The Rise And Decline Of Civilizations. By David Allen Harvey.