Research Explorer

Project

Mesmerist spirituality in the Society of Universal Harmony (1783-­1787).
Code
01D18519
Duration
01 October 2019 → 31 July 2024
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Humanities
    • Cultural history
    • Early modern history
    • Religion and society
Keywords
Mesmerism animal magnetism spirituality Enlightenment individuality ethical subject selfcare
 
Project description

In this research, the problematization of the traditional account of the ‘rational’ Enlightenment’ will be
central, by focusing on the case study of French mesmerism in the Society of Universal Harmony in
Paris (1783-­1787). This will be approached as a ‘spiritual movement’ that put forward selfcare and -­
transformation and will emphasize ‘spiritual’ vocabularies and concepts used by historical actors
themselves.