5.3. The Forms of Struggle
The battle of the Enlightenment requires courage and boldness, but also cunning and caution. Voltaire or Montesquieu set the example of an art of suggestion that is able to attract awareness of the careful reader. While not lacking in audacity, attacks by Enlightenment’s thinkers are rarely frontal. While the author gladly practices an art of evasion with the authorities, the book multiplies the forms of suggestion to better carry out his criticism without appearing to do so. In the following videos, you can discover several forms of the battle of the Enlightenment:
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A whole part of the thinking of the Enlightenment is trying to escape censorship. This is particularly the case for “clandestine philosophical manuscripts”. Behind the great names of the Enlightenment, there is an army of the shadow, which escapes censorship and public exposure. The "clandestine philosophical manuscripts" make it possible to grasp some worthy representatives, such as the priest Meslier.
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The Enlightenment’s thirst for justice has been reflected in the defence of some major causes. Justice and tolerance are two great values of the Enlightenment. That will stand out in the Calas case, but also, as they advance through the century, in the literary development of the “judicial memories” by which, in particular, Beaumarchais will acquire outstanding notoriety.
🎞️ Dissimulation and suggestion
📥 Transcript of the video in English (PDF)
🎞️ Clandestinity and philosophical manuscripts
📥 Transcript of the video in English (PDF)