SPARKS OF REASON

"Sparks of Reason. Urban Culture, Vernacular Rationalism and New Perspectives on the Enlightenment."

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Current debates on the Enlightenment and its influence on present-day society call for an informed scholarly response. What exactly is the Enlightenment? What are its historical roots and how is it being used in current public debate? This project aims to contribute to such a response by introducing a specific tradition of urban lay philosophy—namely ‘vernacular rationalism’ in the Netherlands—as a new factor in our understanding of the rise and meaning of Enlightenment. As a secondary objective, the project aims to assess the relevance of lay philosophy generally for the understanding of early modern society and culture.

This is achieved by (1) examining the philosophical and socio-cultural legacy of 16th-century vernacular rationalism and its function in the Dutch Golden Age, (2) using this to enhance our understanding of the Enlightenment as a historical phenomenon and as a historiographic notion, and (3) turning the case of vernacular rationalism into an informed illustration of the relevance of lay philosophy generally for early modern studies.

Underpinning these research objectives is the strong conviction that it should be natural for intellectual historians to see philosophical ideas as responses to social, religious, political and other issues. The project will therefore reflect an interdisciplinary approach, seeking to integrate—under close monitoring of highly experienced multi/interdisciplinary supervisors—knowledge and methods from various fields of study. As such, it stands at the crossroads of philosophy, culture history and literary studies.

By assessing, refining and correcting our knowledge of the foundations of present-day European society and culture, the project will enhance excellence and increase understanding on a subject directly relevant to the ERA and the EU at large. The mobility is genuine, as its aim is my training in a first-rate US environment and my re-integration into an outstanding multidisciplinary environment in Europe.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Studying Dutch philosophy in the period preceding the Enlightenment reveals how rationalistic thought in the Low Countries was already in full bloom before the Age of Reason and got its inspiration from a variety of sources and traditions.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The Enlightenment in Europe is commonly known as an intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries. It emphasised reason and individualism rather than tradition. Current debates regarding its influence on present-day society were behind the scope of the EU-funded SPARKS OF REASON (Sparks of Reason. Urban culture, vernacular rationalism and new perspectives on the Enlightenment) project.

More specifically, the work was centred on a specific tradition of 16th-century urban lay philosophy in the Low Countries, termed Vernacular Rationalism. This Vernacular Rationalism was a dynamic melting pot of classical philosophy, Humanism, Spiritualism and popular piety. The project shows that Vernacular Rationalism was rooted in an age-old Netherlandish tradition. It also reveals how it was to become one of the breeding grounds for the Early Enlightenment in the 17th-century Dutch Republic. This stems as a new factor in the way we understand the rise and meaning of the European Enlightenment.

Connecting the (Early) Enlightenment in the Dutch Republic during the 1660s to that of an older tradition within Dutch culture itself generates a deeper understanding of its roots and influence on European identity and culture. It allows viewing the Enlightenment as an expression of and response to (early) modern urban culture.

Additionally, by covering the history of philosophical writing in the vernacular, the project sought to assess the relevance of lay philosophy for our understanding of early modern society and culture. The focus is placed on reason as a means to control personal and societal passions. This highlights the impact and function that philosophy has in intellectual, scientific and cultural development.

The project has resulted in an international academic network, papers presented at conferences, and two books and four articles.