Secular Enlightenment

The Secular Enlightenment: A Transformative History of Everyday Life

In the age of Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau, a major shift occurred in the way ordinary people lived their lives. The Secular Enlightenment, written by renowned historian Margaret Jacob, offers a sweeping account of this radical transformation. This groundbreaking book not only explores the familiar figures of the Enlightenment but also sheds light on the voices that have been overlooked until now - from freethinkers and freemasons to French materialists, anticlerical Catholics, pantheists, pornographers, readers, and travelers.

Jacob reveals that the newly emerging secular outlook was not a complete rejection of Christianity, but rather a new way of engaging with the world. Through rare archival materials, she takes readers on a journey from London and Amsterdam to Berlin, Vienna, Turin, and Naples, illustrating how the ideas that shaped secular democracy permeated all aspects of daily life. The traditional view of human frailties as sins gave way to a more scientific understanding, transforming the way people perceived themselves and their actions.

In this new world, people no longer went to churches to pray, but rather to admire the architecture. Sunday mornings were spent reading newspapers or indulging in scandalous literature. The pursuit of temporal and commercial success became the primary focus, with individuals attributing their achievements to their own efforts and failures to economic forces beyond their control.

The Secular Enlightenment is not just a work of intellectual history; it is a cultural exploration of how secular values and pursuits swept across eighteenth-century Europe, extended into the American colonies, and left a lasting impact on the Western world. This majestic book showcases how the Enlightenment era not only changed the way people thought, but also fundamentally altered the way they lived their lives, establishing a legacy that continues to shape society today and for generations to come.

product information: