The French Revolution was a series of cascading events that would upend the world of modern politics. On today's episode, we'll address the following questions:

1. What led the Third Estate to insist that the Estates General meet as a national assembly rather than each estate on its own, as had been done previously?
2. Why did the ideas of the Revolution disrupt the belief structures of the church of France?
3. In what ways did the Revolution begin to push against organized religion?

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Utilitarianism was one product of the Enlightenment, but so was Romanticism. As we begin to unpack these topics, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions:

1. Why did Bentham argue in favor of uncapped interest rates even if it would not be good for individuals?
2. How do Bentham's final wishes—for his body to be dissected and his skeleton put on display—demonstrate the limits of the Enlightenment?
3. What was novel about Blake's approach to children, particularly in his poetry?

Recommended Reading: Blake, William. "Jerusalem (And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time)." 1804.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

The Biblical underpinnings of Judaism give us some important insights into modern economics. To help us explore the topic, we'll address the following questions:

1. In what sense can general economic productivity be understood as Biblical?
2. Why did the Dutch currency become the world's first reserve currency?
3. How can the Biblical covenant be seen as the animating spirit behind the Dutch, British, and eventually American economic prowess?

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

Immanuel Kant is widely regarded as the greatest of the Enlightenment philosophers. Today, we'll learn more about him and address the following questions:

1. How did Kant's Protestant background influence his approach to philosophy?
2. In what way did Kant influence the Romantic era?
3. Why did Kant reject Judaism as irrational?

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

The Scottish Enlightenment was markedly different than the Enlightenment on the European continent. To help us explore this topic, we'll take a look at the following questions:

1. How did David Hume influence the way in which history is recounted?
2. Why would later philosophers see Hume as more reasonable than his French and German counterparts?
3. Why was post-Enlightenment Britain more open to organized religion than the continent?

Recommended Reading: Herman, Arthur. How the Scots Invented the Modern World. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2003.

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

One of the most intriguing philosophers of the Enlightenment was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. As we learn about his assertions and contradictions, Rabbi Rocklin will touch on the following questions:

1. In what sense is Rousseau at least partly responsible for the invention of the child?
2. According to Rousseau, why is society fundamental to the individual?
3. How can Rousseau, an Enlightenment thinker, be considered a Romantic?

Recommended Reading: Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract and Discourses. 1762. Rousseau. Emile: Or On Education. 1763. Reprint, translated by Allan Bloom. New York, Basic Books: 1971. Rousseau. Discourse on Inequality. 1755. Rousseau. Reveries of a Solitary Walker. 1782. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

The French Enlightenment was a time of upheaval, and its main philosophers espoused ideas that challenged the traditional social and religious order. To unpack that concept, we'll explore the following questions:

1. How does Voltaire's perspective on human redemption reflect Enlightenment philosophy?
2. Why did Diderot expect his encyclopedia to be criticized?
3. How does the Marquis de Condorcet help secularize the Augustinian view of history?

This week's episode of The Pillars is generously sponsored by Andrew and Amanda Gold for Dr. Abraham Unger and Emet Classical Academy. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

Richardson, Fielding, and Sterne can be considered responsible for the novel as we recognize it today. On today's episode, we'll uncover answers to the following questions:

1. How does Samuel Richardson's Pamela try to bridge the gap between human reason and sentiment?
2. In what way does Henry Fielding's use of satire help portray the inherent goodness in people?
3. How does Laurence Sterne convey the richness of life through the absurdities that he portrays in Tristram Shandy?

This episode of The Pillars is generously sponsored by Denise and Camillo Santomero. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

The first real criticism of the Enlightenment can be found in Jonathan Swift's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels. While we survey the book, we'll address the following questions:

1. How does Swift's emphasis on human character critique the Enlightenment notion of homo universalis?
2. In what way does Gulliver's Travels argue that man is not nearly as rational as Enlightenment philosophers have presumed him to be?
3. Why does Swift seem to reject the concept of striving for immortality?

Recommended Reading: Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels. 1726. Reprint, England: Oxford University Press, 2008.

This episode of The Pillars is generously sponsored by Denise and Camillo Santomero. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.

Daniel Defoe's Enlightenment experiment continues in the second half of Robinson Crusoe. As we continue our survey, we'll answer the following questions:

1. How does the novel reflect the Enlightenment view of progress as vital for the development of human civilization?
2. Why is there a notable lack of women throughout Robinson Crusoe?
3. In what sense can the novel be considered an updated, Enlightenment version of the Christian story of the prodigal son?

Recommended Reading: Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. 1719. Reprint, New York: Modern Library, 2001.

This week's episode of The Pillars is generously sponsored by Denise and Camillo Santomero. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Pillars, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle by clicking here.