Ideas of Poverty in the Age of Enlightenment

This collection explores how poverty was understood in the Enlightenment, highlighting its significance in political and social debates. Ideas of Poverty in the Age of Enlightenment offers a rich analysis.

This collection of essays delves into the conceptualization of poverty within the social, political, and religious discourses of eighteenth-century Europe and North America. It features contributions from experts across various fields, providing insightful discussions on how thinkers of the Enlightenment era perceived and addressed the plight of the poor. The essays highlight the significant role that poverty played in critical historical issues, making it a central theme in Enlightenment political thought.

The book Ideas of Poverty in the Age of Enlightenment explores key debates surrounding sovereignty, representation, public and private charity, and the intersections with crime and punishment. By examining both canonical Enlightenment thinkers and the broader intellectual culture of the time, it sheds light on how politicians, administrators, and pamphleteers engaged with the complexities of poverty. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches our understanding of the period but also reveals the multifaceted nature of poverty as a topic of discourse.

Additionally, the collection emphasizes the importance of these discussions in shaping modern perspectives on poverty and social justice. The essays collectively argue that the Enlightenment era was not only a time of intellectual advancement but also a period that laid the groundwork for contemporary debates about poverty and its implications in society. An electronic edition of this book is freely available under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND) license.