Les Lumières Françaises

Are you curious about how French Enlightenment thinkers reshaped modern ideas of freedom, reason, and society? This French course explores the philosophy of the 18th century, a period marked by bold critiques of political and religious authority and a new confidence in human reason. Through key texts, debates, and discussions, you will discover how Enlightenment philosophers laid the foundations of modern democracy, secularism, and social thought.

What will we cover?

The Enlightenment context and the role of the philosophes:
• The historical and cultural background of 18th-century France.
• The rise of reason, critique, and public debate.
• The philosophes as public intellectuals.

Key thinkers and ideas of the French Enlightenment:
• Montesquieu and the separation of powers.
• Voltaire on tolerance, freedom of expression, and criticism of authority.
• Rousseau and the social contract, nature, and the general will.
• Diderot and the Encyclopédie as a project of knowledge, education, and emancipation.

Major themes of Enlightenment philosophy:
• Liberty, equality, and political reform.
• The relationship between the individual and society.
• Knowledge, progress, and the role of education.

By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Identify the main thinkers of the French Enlightenment and their key ideas.

• Understand and explain central Enlightenment concepts such as reason, liberty, tolerance, and social contract.

• Discuss philosophical ideas in French using appropriate vocabulary and structures.

• Analyse how Enlightenment philosophy responded to the political and social context of the 18th century.

• Express informed opinions and participate confidently in discussions on philosophical themes.

This course will also strengthen your linguistic skills, helping you develop richer vocabulary and greater fluency when discussing abstract ideas, history, and culture in French.

This course is taught entirely in French and is suitable for learners at level 4 (B2) or those who have studied French for approximately five years. No prior knowledge of philosophy is required—only curiosity and a willingness to engage with ideas and discussion.