The author, a distinguished historian and professor emeritus at New York University, has made significant contributions to the understanding of modernity and bourgeois life in Europe since the 18th century. His works explore the interplay of society, politics, and culture across England, France, and Germany, as well as the evolution of self-conception and personal experience in Western thought since the 1600s.
Cover -- Contents -- Part 1. Philosophy and the Humanist Defense of Rhetoeic -- Part 2. Some Contexts of Petearchian Humanism
What does it mean to be modern? Jerrold Seigel offers a magisterial account of the development of European modernity.
European Distinctiveness and the Transformation of Politics, Culture, and the Economy
The book delves into Europe's unique historical role, emphasizing its lack of central authority and the competitive dynamics among its states. These factors contributed to a distinct focus on liberty, a unique aesthetic evolution, and groundbreaking scientific advancements, leading to the first modern industrial economy. The author contrasts these developments with those in Africa, India, China, and Ottoman territories, highlighting how Europe's characteristics also gave rise to imperial expansion, showcasing both the continent's innovations and its darker legacies.
This book offers a comprehensive exploration of how significant Western European thinkers since the seventeenth century have grappled with the concept of self. Jerrold Seigel examines the challenges individuals face in achieving coherence amidst inner conflicts and external influences.
Culture, Politics, and the Boundaries of Bourgeois Life, 1830-1930
Set in nineteenth-century France, the book explores Bohemia's exotic and perilous culture, perceived by Parisians as a realm of passion and immorality. It examines how bohemianism challenged bourgeois norms and elitist aesthetics, significantly influencing the evolution of European and American societies. By embracing "foreignness," bohemianism offered a means of liberation and nonconformity, reshaping modern urban life within a capitalist framework.
Thought and Experience in Western Europe Since the Seventeenth Century
Focusing on the evolution of self-conception, this book examines the perspectives of significant Western European thinkers from the seventeenth century to contemporary times. It delves into philosophical inquiries and cultural shifts that have shaped the understanding of identity, offering insights into how various intellectual movements have influenced perceptions of the self throughout history.