The Age of Curiosity: The Neural Network of an Idea in Eighteenth-Century English Literature
Book information
Description
Challenging the ‘success story’ of curiosity from original sin to intellectual virtue, this study uses an innovative methodological approach to the history of ideas as a non-teleological neural network based on current research in information technology and neurophysiology. The network offers a dynamic alternative to the ‘development’ of curiosity within the progress-oriented mythology of the Enlightenment, emphasizing the oscillation and interaction of ideas within the processes of their construction, as well as exposing the power relations behind them. The text corpus focuses on enactments of curiosity in English literature of the 'Long' Eighteenth Century (c. 1680-1818), such as transgression of boundaries, breach of taboo, gendered curiosity, sensationalism, or academic endeavour, bringing together a variety of examples from all major genres. The Age of Curiosity contributes to current debates on a post-Foucauldian renewal of Lovejoy’s history of ideas in Enlightenment studies, exploring both curiosity as an indispensable trait for the search of answers to the fundamental yet unresolved questions of ‘identity’ or ‘truth’, and its potential as cura, the care for others and the world. ‘neo-history of ideas’ as a present-day alternative to Lovejoy in-depth analysis of eighteenth-century texts from all major genres successful application of metaphors from information science to illustrate cultural concepts
Similar books
The Age of Curiosity: The Neural Network of an Idea in Eighteenth-Century English Literature
2021 · PDF
EXCEL 2023 CRASH COURSE: Master Excel 2023 With This Complete Crash Course In 7 Days
2022 · EPUB
The arraignment and tryall with a declaration of the Ranters also, several sentences proceedings at the sessions in the Old-Baily, and Councel of War: their protestations and the hanging of one up by the thumbs; with divers penalties to be inflicted upon others. The dancing and revelling of Dr. Buckeridge and his wife, and other gent. dancing all in white, in Berkshire, and their Christmas carol. A dispute between a Ranter in Bridewel, and one that came to see him; with his creed and pater noster: and the names of the false gods they worship. As also, a list of many of the Ranters, from whence they are derived: and of many hundreds of them in England
2019 · EPUB
The discoverer; vvherein is set forth (to undeceive the nation) the reall plots and stratagems of Lievt. Col. John Lilburn, Mr. William Walwyn, Mr. Thomas Prince, Mr. Richard Overton, and that partie ... Namely, under the pretence and colour of libertie ... a most dangerous and destructive designe is carried on to deprive the nation of their religion, rights, liberties, proprieties, lawes, government, &c. and to bring a totall and universall ruine upon the land. And so much is here clearely proved. The first part
2019 · EPUB
An act to impower Sir John Molesworth: Baronet, and Joseph Moyle, Esquire, Two of the surviving Trustees, in an Indenture, dated the Twenty-Fifth Day of December One thousand Seven hundred and Forty-Three, to raise the several Sums in the said Indenture mentioned, or such of them as are still unsatisfied, and pay the same, as well as the rest of the personal Estate of Hugh Gregor, deceased, to such Person as Jane Gregor, an Infant, shall marry during her Infancy, with the Consent of the surviving Trustees, and of her Guardians
EPUB
Case Histories
2008 · EPUB
Pandora's Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization
2010 · EPUB
Obama's Wars
2010 · EPUB