Historical Dictionary of the Enlightenment

Harvey Chisick

Feb 2005 · Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

About this ebook

The Enlightenment Movement changed society forever, driving it forward through new and fresh ways of thinking about science, religion, history, politics, and culture. This dictionary offers a balanced overview and helps us to understand and appreciate the Enlightenment through its coverage of the basic assumptions and values that structured the movement; explanation of how these ideas were articulated; the paths of communication they followed; how its key ideas grew, developed and were refracted; and how new problems grew out of what were advanced as solutions to older problems. An engaging introductory essay along with hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries defines the significant persons, places, events, institutions, and literary works of the movement. A chronological table charts the progression of the movement by indicating the date, the main figures involved, the political or society events, and the science, arts, or letters that resulted. The comprehensive bibliography, with an introductory essay to the literature, categorized by subject complements this reference that will be valued by all seeking basic details about this important period.

About the author

Harvey Chisick was born in London, England, in 1946. With his family he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he attended elementary and secondary schools, and did his B.A. He received his doctorate from The Johns Hopkins University, and is the author of a number of books and articles on the social and intellectual history of the eighteenth century.