Una rivoluzione della mente. L'Illuminismo radicale e le origini intellettuali della democrazia moderna

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Democracy, free thought, religious tolerance, individual liberty, and equality have become mainstream values since the 1948 U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. However, their origins were far more radical than most historians acknowledge. Jonathan Israel, a leading historian of the Enlightenment, traces these philosophical roots to the Radical Enlightenment, a clandestine movement that emerged in opposition to the more moderate mainstream Enlightenment of the 18th century. Initially hidden from public view, the Radical Enlightenment gained prominence during the revolutionary decades of the 1770s to 1790s, provoking significant backlash from those defending monarchy, aristocracy, empire, and racial hierarchy. This vigorous opposition was fueled by societal impulses to maintain censorship, church authority, social inequality, and privilege for ruling groups. By exploring this history, the work reveals the surprising origins of our most cherished values and sheds light on why they continue to face disapproval and attacks in certain circles today.