The free course will examine the Enlightenment. To help understand the nature and scale of the cultural changes of the time, we offer a 'map' of the conceptual territory and the intellectual and cultural climate. We will examine the impact of Enlightenment on a variety of areas including science, religion, the classics, art and nature. Finally, we will examine the forces of change which led from Enlightenment to Romanticism.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 'The Enlightenment'
- 1 'The Enlightenment'
- 2 The Enlightenment and its mission
- 2 The Enlightenment and its mission
- 2.1 Definitions
- 2.2 The Encyclopédie
- 2.3 The pervasive influence of Enlightenment
- 3 Enlightenment, science and empiricism
- 3 Enlightenment, science and empiricism
- 4 Enlightenment, religion and morality
- 4 Enlightenment, religion and morality
- 4.1 Constant human nature
- 4.2 Materialism
- 4.3 Responses to religion
- 5 Enlightenment and the classics
- 5 Enlightenment and the classics
- 6 The Enlightenment on art, genius and the sublime
- 6 The Enlightenment on art, genius and the sublime
- 7 The Enlightenment and nature
- 7 The Enlightenment and nature
- 8 The forces of change: towards Romanticism
- 8 The forces of change: towards Romanticism
- 8.1 The forces of change: towards Romanticism
- 8.2 The increasing status of feeling
- 8.3 Enlightenment, humanity and revolution
- 8.3.1 Humanity
- 8.3.2 Revolution
- 8.4 The Enlightenment and modernity
- 9 Conclusion
- 9 Conclusion
- 9.1 Key characteristics of the enlightenment
- 9.2 Cultural shifts: from Enlightenment to Romanticism, c.1780–1830
- References
- Acknowledgements
