What if God is, not the kind of personal being of the Bible, but a more universal being, or existence itself? And if this God, the universe, is a harmonious whole, why should human society necessarily be a violent, irrational affair, based on enslavement, mutual mistrust, and hatred? Is a rational civilization possible: a world without rulers or laws, where everyone voluntarily contributes to the common good? These texts, written by a radical Benedictine monk during the Age of Enlightenment, argue that humanity can and must progress into a new state, called the "state of morals", a state of human community and cooperation.
Diderot called this "one of the most violent and original books" he knew of. Deschamps has also been called the "master of the masters of suspicion" (Robinet, 1974) because, like Paul Ricoeur's "Masters of Suspicion" (Nietzsche, Marx, and Freud), he boldly questioned everything, including God, good and evil, social norms, human psychology, and civilization itself.
These are the first English translations of any of Deschamps' writings.
Diderot called this "one of the most violent and original books" he knew of. Deschamps has also been called the "master of the masters of suspicion" (Robinet, 1974) because, like Paul Ricoeur's "Masters of Suspicion" (Nietzsche, Marx, and Freud), he boldly questioned everything, including God, good and evil, social norms, human psychology, and civilization itself.
These are the first English translations of any of Deschamps' writings.
