Kate ’s Reviews > The Enlightenment, Volume 1: The Rise of Modern Paganism > Status Update

The philosophes loved the ancient Greeks but did not understand them or really care to understand them.

All of the philosophes had blissful relationships with the ancients in their youth that led to existential crises in their later youth. None were ever able to successfully extract themselves from the Christian world that they were raised in. Rousseau really was the most morose of the lot.

The philosophes saw history as a see saw between ages of reason and ages of superstition. They didn't invent this idea - Vasari and Bacon also made this claim.

The philosophes were an urban bunch, and mostly got along, except when they didn't, and when they didn't, they were all very emotional but good humored about it. Except for Rousseau. Everybody hated him.