The era of the Enlightenment played a key role in shaping the world in which we now live.  The eighteenth century saw the rise of new forms of intellectual culture which challenged political, social and religious order in a process that stretched from Europe to the Americas and parts of Asia and Africa.  This course assists students to explore the Enlightenment in its historical context.  Going beyond the traditional history of ideas, we will examine the major thinkers of the period within the framework of the national and international cultures that shaped their thought.  We will consider the social origins of the enlightenment in different settings; changing relationships between philosophers, the state and the public; competing visions of social and political life amongst Enlightenment thinkers; and the long-term legacy of the Enlightenment as a whole.  

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1)      Demonstrate critical understanding of key themes and issues in the study of the Enlightenment

2)      Analyse and explicate major ideas associated with the history of the Enlightenment

3)      Explain relationships between the intellectual developments of the period and broader issues of historical context

4)      Use period sources to reconstruct attitudes, beliefs and arguments from the past

5)      Construct evidence-based arguments about the origins, character and/or legacy of the Enlightenment

6)      Design and complete a research project on the history of the Enlightenment with assistance from the convenor

Essay of 2000 words 30% (LOs 1,2,3,4,5)

Research Essay of 3,500 words, 60% (LOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Oral and/or written contribution to class activities - 10% (1,2,3,4)

A weekly lecture of 1.5-2 hours duration, and a tutorial of one hour.  Lectures will be recorded and made available via Wattle.  In addition, students should expect to spend an average of 7-7.5 hours per week over the course of the semester, preparing for class activities, writing essays and studying for the exam.

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Students undertaking this course should have completed an undergraduate degree with significant study in History or a cognate discipline.

Weekly tutorial reading will be made available to students in electronic form.

Students seeking preliminary reading for the course might look at:

D. Edelstein, The Enlightenment: A Genealogy (Chicago: Chicago University Press, 2010)

M. Fitzpatrick et al. (eds.), The Enlightenment World (Abingdon: Routledge, 2004)

I. Kramnick, The Portable Enlightenment Reader (Penguin: New York, 1995)

D. Outram, The Enlightenment (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995/2005)

This course has no special technology requirements.  Students will need access to a computer to prepare essays and access course materials.