Mind, Body, Motion, Matter

"Mind, Body, Motion, Matter, with its thoughtful articulation of contemporary theoretical concerns with eighteenth-century literature, art, aesthetics, and philosophy, represents the leading edge of eighteenth-century studies. A collection of provocative, substantial, and well-argued essays, the volume not only reflects on what is past but also opens onto the future." -- Natania Meeker, Departments of French and Comparative Literature, University of Southern California "Each of the essays in this collection helps reshape the way we think about British and French eighteenth-century literary culture. Those who are engaged with eighteenth-century philosophy and science will be especially interested in the range of topics addressed in Mind, Body, Motion, Matter." -- Neil Saccamano, Department of English, Cornell University

Mind, Body, Motion, Matter investigates the relationship between the eighteenth century’s two predominant approaches to the natural world in the works of leading British and French writers such as Daniel Defoe, William Hogarth, Laurence Sterne, the third Earl of Shaftesbury and Denis Diderot.

Mind, Body, Motion, Matter investigates the relationship between the eighteenth century’s two predominant approaches to the natural world – mechanistic materialism and vitalism – in the works of leading British and French writers such as Daniel Defoe, William Hogarth, Laurence Sterne, the third Earl of Shaftesbury and Denis Diderot. Focusing on embodied experience and the materialization of thought in poetry, novels, art, and religion, the literary scholars in this collection offer new and intriguing readings of these canonical authors. Informed by contemporary currents such as new materialism, cognitive studies, media theory, and post-secularism, their essays demonstrate the volatility of the core ideas opened up by materialism and the possibilities of an aesthetic vitalism of form.