Portable Enlightenment Reader

Isaac Kramnick was born in 1938 and educated at Harvard University, where he received a B.A. degree in 1959 and a Ph.D. in 1965, and at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, Yale and Cornell, where he is now Professor of Government. He is married to Miriam Brody Kramnick and lives in Ithaca, New York. Among his publications are Bolingbroke and His Circle, The Rage of Edmund Burke and numerous articles on eighteenth century topics. He has edited William Godwin’s Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, The Federalist Papers by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay and, with Michael Foot, The Thomas Paine Reader for the Penguin Classics. Most recently he is the author, with Barry Sheerman, MP, of Laski: A Lift on the Left.

• Notes to IntroductionSuggestions for Further ReadingChronological Table Part One: The Enlightenment Spirit: An OverviewWhat is Enlightenment?KantThe Human Mind Emerged from Barbarism d’Alembert“Encyclopédie”DiderotDefinition of a Philosophe DumarsaisLe mariage de FigaroBeaumarchaisThe Magic FluteMozartThe Future Progress of the Human MindCondorcetPart Two: Reason and NatureThe New Science BaconMathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy NewtonThe New Physics CotesOn Bacon and NewtonVoltaireThe Rat BuffonThe Utility of Science CondorcetThe Organization of Scientific Research PriestleyLetter to Joseph Priestley FranklinPart Three: Reason and GodOn Superstition and ToleranceBayleA Letter Concerning TolerationLockeOn EnthusiasmShaftesburyThe Argument for a DeityNewtonA Discourse of Free-ThinkingCollins “If there is a God…;”MontesquieuOf Miracles and the Origin of ReligionHumeReflections on ReligionVoltaireProfession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarRousseau“No need of theology…;only of reason…;”d’HolbachThe Progress of SuperstitionGibbon UnitarianismPriestley“Religion…;my views of it…;”Jefferson“Something of my religion…;”Franklin The Temple of Reason The Age of Reason PainePart Four: Reason and HumanityThe Mind and Ideas“I think, therefore I am…;” DescartesAn Essay Concerning Human UnderstandingLockeNew Essays on Human Understanding LeibnitzOn Mr. Locke VoltaireA Treatise of Human NatureHumeMan a Machinela Mettrie Of Ideas, Their Generation and AssociationsHartleyThe Philosophy of Common SenseReidTreatise on the SensationsCondillacEducation and ChildhoodSome Thoughts Concerning EducationLockeChildren and Civic EducationRousseauEducation for Civil and Active LifePriestleyManners and MoralsThe Fable of the Bees MandevilleAn Essay on ManPopeMemoirs of a Woman of Pleasure ClelandEnjoyment and TahitiDiderotConcerning the Moral SenseHutchesonThe Impartial SpectatorSmith A Treatise on ManHelvétiusFundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of MoralsKantThe Principle of UtilityBenthamTaste and ArtOn WitAddisonIdeas of Beauty and Virtue HutchesonDiscourse on StyleBuffonOf the Standard of TasteHumeThe SublimeBurkeOn Theater and MoralsRousseauOn Custom and FashionSmith The Beautiful and SublimeKantDiscourse on ArtReynoldsPart Five: Reason and SocietyProgress and HistoryThe New Science VicoThe Utility of HistoryBolingbrokeHistory as GuideHumeOn ProgressTurgotA Critique of ProgressRousseau In Defense of ModernityVoltaireThe Four-Stage Theory of DevelopmentSmithThe Progressive Character of Human NatureFerguson “How glorious, then, is the prospect…;”PriestleyThe Perfectibility of ManCondorcetPolitics and the StateThe Second Treatise of Civil Government LockeThe Spirit of the LawsMontesquieuPolitical EssaysVoltaireDiscourse on the Origin of InequalityRousseauThe Social ContractRousseauCommon SensePaineThe American Declaration of Independence Benevolent DespotismFrederick the GreatFederalist No. 10MadisonThe Declaration of the Rights of Man and the CitizenThe Rights of ManPaineEnquiry Concerning Political JusticeGodwinThe Economy and MarketsThe Royal ExchangeAddisonIndustry and the Way to WealthFranklinOf LuxuryHume The Physiocratic FormulaQuesnayEconomic LibertyTurgotThe Wealth of NationsSmithCrime and PunishmentThe Severity of Criminal LawsMontesquieuAn Essay on Crimes and PunishmentsBeccariaOn Torture and Capital PunishmentVoltaireThe State of PrisonsHoward“Cases unmeet for punishment…;”BenthamWar and PeaceSplendid ArmiesVoltaire“There never was a good war…;”FranklinPerpetual PeaceKantGender and RaceSome Reflections upon MarriageAstellDuties of WomenRousseauThe Fair SexKantWomen, Adored and OppressedPaine(attr.)“A woman…;gossips much…;”MozartWomen’s EducationMacaulay On the Equality of the SexesConstantiaThe Rights of Womande GougesVindication of the Rights of WomanWollstonecraft“Negroes…;naturally inferior to the whites…;”HumeConsiderations on the Keeping of NegroesWoolmanThe Difference between the RacesKant “Who are you, then, to make slaves…;”Diderot“Bestial manners, stupidity, and vices…;”LongAfrican Slavery in AmericaPaineOf Empires and Savages GibbonOn Indians and NegroesJefferson“Negro”Encylopaedia BritannicaThe End of EmpirePriestley