Book contents
- The Hidden Origins of the German Enlightenment
- Ideas in Context
- The Hidden Origins of the German Enlightenment
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Note on Translation
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 The Mortal Soul
- Chapter 2 Nature and Idolatry
- Chapter 3 The Doctrine of Temperaments, Medicine, and the Problem of Atheism
- Chapter 4 Natural Law, Religion, and Moral Skepticism
- Chapter 5 From Becmann to Stosch
- Chapter 6 The Founders of Religion as Human Beings
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 4 - Natural Law, Religion, and Moral Skepticism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 June 2023
- The Hidden Origins of the German Enlightenment
- Ideas in Context
- The Hidden Origins of the German Enlightenment
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Note on Translation
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 The Mortal Soul
- Chapter 2 Nature and Idolatry
- Chapter 3 The Doctrine of Temperaments, Medicine, and the Problem of Atheism
- Chapter 4 Natural Law, Religion, and Moral Skepticism
- Chapter 5 From Becmann to Stosch
- Chapter 6 The Founders of Religion as Human Beings
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Samuel Pufendorf’s version of natural law formed one of the foundations for the early Enlightenment in Germany, something we have noted in several of the chapters of this book, but the actual problems of law have not yet received their own chapter. Here I do not intend to summarize or comment on the many excellent contributions to this topic.1 To do so would not make much sense and, besides, the task could not be completed in the tight space of one chapter. Instead I would like to treat a few neglected authors, currents, and connections and pay special attention to radicalizing impulses.
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- The Hidden Origins of the German Enlightenment , pp. 158 - 220Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023