Madame de StaeÌl and the theory of progress : Scottish social theory in France
The works of Mme de StaeÌl have never been seriously considered from a philosophical point of view; they have never been treated as an integrated system with a sense of theoretical continuity and historical purpose. Though in recent years her political disposition and engagement have attracted fresh interest, the relationship between her policies, her analysis of French and English constitutional history and her moral and social philosophy remains obscure. Yet with Mme de StaeÌl,both history and ethics were subtly combined to complement a political programme. History and philosophy were for her the ammunition in an intensely personal political battle for a regular form of constitutional government in keeping with France's cultural heritage. The present study considers the works of Mme de StaeÌl as forming a cohesive and integrated system. It concentrates on one particular aspect of her thought - her theory of perfectibility- a theme which runs throughout her works. Her conception of progress, perhaps the most unique and least well understood od her doctrines, breaks with the tradition as developed in France by Turgot and Condorcet. Mme de StaeÌl appears to have dramn heavily on the theories of human evolution
Zemek, Margaret Theodora
History
Madame de StaeÌl and the theory of progress : Scottish social theory in France. The works of Mme de StaeÌl have never been seriously considered from a philosophical point of view; they have never been treated as an integrated system with a sense of theoretical continuity and historical purpose. Though in recent years her political disposition and engagement have attracted fresh interest, the relationship between her policies, her analysis of French and English constitutional history and her moral and social philosophy remains obscure. Yet with Mme de StaeÌl,both history and ethics were subtly combined to complement a political programme. History and philosophy were for her the ammunition in an intensely personal political battle for a regular form of constitutional government in keeping with France's cultural heritage. The present study considers the works of Mme de StaeÌl as forming a cohesive and integrated system. It concentrates on one particular aspect of her thought - her theory of perfectibility- a theme which runs throughout her works. Her conception of progress, perhaps the most unique and least well understood od her doctrines, breaks with the tradition as developed in France by Turgot and Condorcet. Mme de StaeÌl appears to have dramn heavily on the theories of human evolution
theory progress scottish social_theory france work never seriously consider philosophical point_view never treat integrated system sense theoretical continuity historical purpose though political disposition engagement attract fresh interest relationship policy analysis french_english constitutional history moral social philosophy remain obscure yet history ethic combine complement political programme history_philosophy intensely personal political battle regular form constitutional government keep france cultural_heritage present_study considers work form cohesive integrated system concentrate particular_aspect think theory theme_run throughout work conception progress perhaps unique least well_understood doctrine break tradition develop france appear heavily theory human evolution