Understanding the Counter-Enlightenment Discourse through Palissot’s Les Philosophes

Ali Can Tural

Makale detayları

Understanding the Counter-Enlightenment Discourse through Palissot’s Les Philosophes

Yazarlar:

Ali Can Tural

Yayıncı:

Dokuz Eylul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Günlük Yaşam ve Tüketim

Dergi:

Metin & Analiz Vol.1 Issue 1, pp.91-103

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

2/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341738

pISSN:

3062-2786

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Although Les Philosophes was an ordinary comedy, and Palissot was far from the caliber of Molière or Voltaire, it successfully consolidated conservative criticisms of the philosophes within a satirical framework, enjoying a successful three-month run in 1760. The reason behind its success was that it was at the center of a debate between the Enlightenment philosophers and the Counter-Enlightenment figures. In addition to being an example of 18th-century French comédie, the play serves as a valuable source for understanding the key points of conservative discourse of the time. While Palissot seemed to focus on attacking individual philosophes personalities, he paired these attacks with conceptual critiques, and directed the most of his criticism primarily at Diderot and Rousseau. The play remains significant for two reasons: First, it captures almost all of the concerns and arguments of the conservative reaction to the Enlightenment. Second, it sheds light on Enlightenment thinkers personal and intellectual struggles. This paper examines Palissots Les Philosophes not as a mere literary dispute but as a rich text that reveals the Counter-Enlightenment discourse that emerged in the second half of the 18th century.

 Although Les Philosophes was an ordinary comedy, and Palissot was far from the caliber of Molière or Voltaire, it successfully consolidated conservative criticisms of the philosophes within a satirical framework, enjoying a successful three-month run in 1760. The reason behind its success was that it was at the center of a debate between the Enlightenment philosophers and the Counter-Enlightenment figures. In addition to being an example of 18th-century French comédie, the play serves as a valuable source for understanding the key points of conservative discourse of the time. While Palissot seemed to focus on attacking individual philosophes personalities, he paired these attacks with conceptual critiques, and directed the most of his criticism primarily at Diderot and Rousseau. The play remains significant for two reasons: First, it captures almost all of the concerns and arguments of the conservative reaction to the Enlightenment. Second, it sheds light on Enlightenment thinkers personal and intellectual struggles. This paper examines Palissots Les Philosophes not as a mere literary dispute but as a rich text that reveals the Counter-Enlightenment discourse that emerged in the second half of the 18th century.

 Although Les Philosophes was an ordinary comedy, and Palissot was far from the caliber of Molière or Voltaire, it successfully consolidated conservative criticisms of the philosophes within a satirical framework, enjoying a successful three-month run in 1760. The reason behind its success was that it was at the center of a debate between the Enlightenment philosophers and the Counter-Enlightenment figures. In addition to being an example of 18th-century French comédie, the play serves as a valuable source for understanding the key points of conservative discourse of the time. While Palissot seemed to focus on attacking individual philosophes personalities, he paired these attacks with conceptual critiques, and directed the most of his criticism primarily at Diderot and Rousseau. The play remains significant for two reasons: First, it captures almost all of the concerns and arguments of the conservative reaction to the Enlightenment. Second, it sheds light on Enlightenment thinkers personal and intellectual struggles. This paper examines Palissots Les Philosophes not as a mere literary dispute but as a rich text that reveals the Counter-Enlightenment discourse that emerged in the second half of the 18th century.

 Les Philosophes sıradan bir komedi olmasına ve Palissot yetenek bakımından Molièreden ve Voltaireden oldukça uzak olmasına rağmen, muhafazakâr eleştirileri alaycı bir çerçevede birleştirerek 1760 yılında üç ay süren bir sahne başarısı elde etmiştir. Oyunun başarısının nedeni, Aydınlanma filozofları ile Karşı-Aydınlanma figürleri arasındaki tartışmanın merkezinde yer almasıdır. 18. yüzyıl Fransız komedisi türüne bir örnek olmasının yanı sıra, oyun, dönemin muhafazakâr söyleminin temel noktalarını anlamak için değerli bir kaynak olarak değerlendirilmelidir. Palissot, ilk bakışta filozofların kişiliklerini hedef alıyor gibi görünse de, bu saldırıları aydınlanma filolarının kullandığı kavramlara yönelik eleştirilerle birleştirmiş ve eleştirilerinin çoğunu özellikle Diderot ve Rousseauya yöneltmiştir. Oyun iki açıdan önemini korumaktadır: Birincisi, Aydınlanmaya karşı muhafazakâr tepkinin hemen hemen tüm kaygılarını ve gerekçelerini ortaya koymaktadır. İkincisi, Aydınlanma düşünürlerinin kişisel ve entelektüel mücadelelerine ışık tutmaktadır. Bu makale, Palissotnun Les Philosophes yapıtını basit bir edebi tartışma olarak değil, 18. yüzyılın ikinci yarısında ortaya çıkan Karşı-Aydınlanma söylemini açığa çıkaran zengin bir metin olarak incelemektedir.

Makale detayları

Understanding the Counter-Enlightenment Discourse through Palissot’s Les Philosophes

Yazarlar:

Ali Can Tural

Yayıncı:

Dokuz Eylul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Günlük Yaşam ve Tüketim

Dergi:

Metin & Analiz Vol.1 Issue 1, pp.91-103

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

2/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341738

pISSN:

3062-2786

Counter-Enlightenment

Enlightenment

Palissot

Denis Diderot

Conservative DiscourseKarşı Aydınlanma

Aydınlanma

Palissot

Denis Diderot

Muhafazakâr Söylem

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Ali Can Tural

Yayıncı: Dokuz Eylul University

Ana Başlıklar: Günlük Yaşam ve Tüketim

Dergi: Metin & Analiz Vol.1 Issue 1, pp.91-103

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 2/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001341738

pISSN: 3062-2786

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Ali Can Tural

Yayıncı:

Dokuz Eylul University

Ana Başlıklar:

Günlük Yaşam ve Tüketim

Dergi:

Metin & Analiz Vol.1 Issue 1, pp.91-103

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

2/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001341738

pISSN:

3062-2786