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POLITE WORLDS OF
ENLIGHTENMENT
Margaret C. Jacob
The text discusses the role of politeness and sociability during the
Enlightenment, touching upon various aspects of social interactions, clubs,
and scientific societies.
1. Politeness as an Ideal:
Politeness emerged as an ideal for social interactions during a time
when social boundaries were becoming more fluid due to economic
success.
It facilitated encounters with strangers but also had a gate-keeping
role, excluding those unwilling to adhere to its formalities.
Politeness involved being civil, cultivating a tolerant attitude towards
differences, and providing an environment for the consumption of
luxury goods.
2. Politeness in Britain and Beyond:
In Britain, politeness played a crucial role in political discourse,
allowing parties to compete without risking civil war and negotiating
POLITE WORLDS OF ENLIGHTENMENT 1
, rank and status.
Politeness was practiced through courtesy, subtlety of expression,
and the smoothing of various transactions.
It provided a framework for interactions between people of different
social, religious, and national backgrounds, contributing to
cosmopolitanism.
3. Salons and Enlightenment:
Social gatherings, particularly salons led by influential women,
played a significant role in the Enlightenment.
Salons facilitated intellectual exchanges, providing a platform for
discussions in a live setting, fostering the republic of letters.
The republic of letters, hosted mainly by women, transcended
national and historical boundaries, allowing for a diverse exchange
of ideas.
4. Universities and Scientific Societies:
Universities, although relatively socially conservative, practiced
forms of politeness rooted in medieval traditions.
Politeness within universities aimed to produce clergymen who were
socially adept beyond their religious roles.
Advanced science thrived in philosophical societies and academies,
fostering collaborative debate and interaction.
5. Scientific Academies and Societal Collaborations:
Scientific academies promoted collaborative debate and interaction,
preventing fragmentation and promoting a climate of polite discourse.
Politeness in scientific societies facilitated the exchange of scientific
knowledge and the elaboration of existing ideas.
6. Clandestine Societies and Masonic Connections:
Some societies, like the one in The Hague, with Masonic
characteristics, included members from various backgrounds and
nationalities.
These societies engaged in publishing, the circulation of clandestine
literature, and close connections with English intellectual life.
POLITE WORLDS OF ENLIGHTENMENT 2
POLITE WORLDS OF
ENLIGHTENMENT
Margaret C. Jacob
The text discusses the role of politeness and sociability during the
Enlightenment, touching upon various aspects of social interactions, clubs,
and scientific societies.
1. Politeness as an Ideal:
Politeness emerged as an ideal for social interactions during a time
when social boundaries were becoming more fluid due to economic
success.
It facilitated encounters with strangers but also had a gate-keeping
role, excluding those unwilling to adhere to its formalities.
Politeness involved being civil, cultivating a tolerant attitude towards
differences, and providing an environment for the consumption of
luxury goods.
2. Politeness in Britain and Beyond:
In Britain, politeness played a crucial role in political discourse,
allowing parties to compete without risking civil war and negotiating
POLITE WORLDS OF ENLIGHTENMENT 1
, rank and status.
Politeness was practiced through courtesy, subtlety of expression,
and the smoothing of various transactions.
It provided a framework for interactions between people of different
social, religious, and national backgrounds, contributing to
cosmopolitanism.
3. Salons and Enlightenment:
Social gatherings, particularly salons led by influential women,
played a significant role in the Enlightenment.
Salons facilitated intellectual exchanges, providing a platform for
discussions in a live setting, fostering the republic of letters.
The republic of letters, hosted mainly by women, transcended
national and historical boundaries, allowing for a diverse exchange
of ideas.
4. Universities and Scientific Societies:
Universities, although relatively socially conservative, practiced
forms of politeness rooted in medieval traditions.
Politeness within universities aimed to produce clergymen who were
socially adept beyond their religious roles.
Advanced science thrived in philosophical societies and academies,
fostering collaborative debate and interaction.
5. Scientific Academies and Societal Collaborations:
Scientific academies promoted collaborative debate and interaction,
preventing fragmentation and promoting a climate of polite discourse.
Politeness in scientific societies facilitated the exchange of scientific
knowledge and the elaboration of existing ideas.
6. Clandestine Societies and Masonic Connections:
Some societies, like the one in The Hague, with Masonic
characteristics, included members from various backgrounds and
nationalities.
These societies engaged in publishing, the circulation of clandestine
literature, and close connections with English intellectual life.
POLITE WORLDS OF ENLIGHTENMENT 2
