The Virtues of Abandon : An Anti-Individualist History of the French Enlightenment

France in the eighteenth century glittered, but also seethed, with new goods and new ideas. In the halls of Versailles, the streets of Paris, and the soul of the Enlightenment itself, a vitriolic struggle was being waged over the question of ownership—of property, of position, even of personhood. Those who championed man's possession of material, spiritual, and existential goods faced the successive assaults of radical Christian mystics, philosophical materialists, and political revolutionaries. This book traces the aims and activities of these three seemingly disparate groups, and the current of anti-individualism that permeated theology, philosophy, and politics throughout the period. Fired by the desire to abandon the self, men and women sought new ways to relate to God, nature, and nation. They joined illicit mystic cults that engaged in rituals of physical mortification and sexual license, committed suicides in the throes of materialist fatalism, drank potions to induce consciousness-altering dreams, railed against the degrading effects of unfettered consumption, and ultimately renounced the feudal privileges that had for centuries defined their social existence. The explosive denouement was the French Revolution, during which God and king were toppled from their thrones. We credit the French Enlightenment with the formal recognition of autonomous individualism, and the Revolution with inscribing the individual's rights into law. This book contends, however, that these rights arose as much out of calls for violent self-sacrifice as for the individual pursuit of happiness. Revealing the religious underpinnings of the Enlightenment even in its materialist, atheistic forms, __The Virtues of Abandon__ offers an original, audacious history of eighteenth-century France. France In The Eighteenth Century Glittered, But Also Seethed, With New Goods And Ideas. In The Halls In Versailles, The Streets Of Paris, And The Soul Of The Enlightenment Itself, A Struggle Was Being Waged Over The Question Of Ownership - Of Property, Of Position, Even Of Personhood. Those Who Championed The Possession Of Material, Spiritual, And Existential Goods Faced The Assaults Of Christian Mystics, Philosophical Materialists, And Political Revolutionaries. Charly Coleman Traces The Aims And Activities Of These Seemingly Disparate Groups, And The Current Of Anti-individualism That Permeated Theology, Philosophy, And Politics Throughout The Period. Fired By The Desire To Abandon The Self, Men And Women Sought New Ways To Relate To God, Nature, And Nation. They Joined Illicit Mystic Cults, Induced Consciousness-altering Dreams, Railed Against Unfettered Consumption, And Ultimately Renounced The Privileges That Defined Their Social Existence. The Denouement Was The French Revolution, During Which God And King Were Toppled From Their Thrones. We Credit The Enlightenment And The Revolution With Enshrining The Individual As An Autonomous, Rights-bearing Subject. This Book Contends, However, That Such An Outcome Owes As Much To Calls For Self-sacrifice As To The Pursuit Of Happiness. Revealing The Religious Underpinnings Of The Enlightenment Even In Its Atheistic Forms, The Virtues Of Abandon Offers An Original, Audacious History Of Eighteenth-century France. -- From Dust Cover. Specters Of Venality -- The Challenge Of Mysticism -- The Curse Of Quietism -- Spinoza's Ghost -- The Sleep Of Reason -- The Politics Of Alienation -- Revolutionary Reveries. Charly Coleman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. France in the eighteenth century glittered, but also seethed, with new goods and new ideas. In the halls of Versailles, the streets of Paris, and the soul of the Enlightenment itself, a vitriolic struggle was being waged over the question of ownership—of property, of position, even of personhood. Those who championed man's possession of material, spiritual, and existential goods faced the successive assaults of radical Christian mystics, philosophical materialists, and political revolutionaries. The Virtues of Abandon traces the aims and activities of these three seemingly disparate groups, and the current of anti-individualism that permeated theology, philosophy, and politics throughout the period. Fired by the desire to abandon the self, men and women sought new ways to relate to God, nature, and nation. They joined illicit mystic cults that engaged in rituals of physical mortification and sexual license, committed suicides in the throes of materialist fatalism, drank potions to induce consciousness-altering dreams, railed against the degrading effects of unfettered consumption, and ultimately renounced the feudal privileges that had for centuries defined their social existence. The explosive denouement was the French Revolution, during which God and king were toppled from their thrones. Table of Contents 6 Illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 16 Part 1: Theological Battlegrounds 34 Chapter 1: Spectors of Venality 36 Chapter 2: The Challenge of Mysticism 68 Chapter 3: The Curse of Quietism 104 Part II: Philosophy, Economy, and the Body Politic 138 Chapter 4: Spinoza’s Ghost 140 Chapter 5: The Sleep of Reason 174 Chapter 6: The Politics of Alienation 218 Chapter 7: Revolutionary Reveries 264 Epilogue 302 Note on Abbreviations and Translations 314 Notes 316 Bibliography 374 Index 404 The Virtues of Abandon explores how eighteenth-century debates over the self's relationship to property gave rise to a previously unexamined anti-individualist tradition of thought and action that informed the work of mystics, materialists, and radical political thinkers during the French Enlightenment and the Revolution.