Flesh in the Age of Reason: The Modern Foundations of Body and Soul

this is an exceptionally well written and entertaining survey of the major personalities of the 18th century english enlightenment and early 19th century romantics, and their individual places in the complex cultural tensions during that period -- between religious and secular, public and personal, classical and romantic, superstitious and scientific. All the big names are here (addison, boyle, byron, erasmus darwin, gibbon, johnson, locke, priestley, sterne, swift) as well as many lesser lights (godwin, hartley, mandeville, shaftesbury, willis), and their lives, opinions and writings are woven into an extended examination of mind and body, materialism and spirituality, individualism and identity, and the shifting definitions of man, humanity and gender politics. however the material is made accessible as relatively short, self contained or stand alone chapters that focus on a particular person or topic. the relatively large size and generous spacing of the typeface makes the book a brisk read, despite its bulk and length (573 pages). this edition includes an extensive (80 pages, two columns) bibliography and a detailed index, but -- regrettably -- there are no endnotes or footnotes, so that all the facts, anecdotes, quotations and excerpts are completely unreferenced. the preface claims that this omission was necessary because porter died before the notes were compiled, and they could not be reconstructed because he used different editions of a single document (locke's treatises, boswell's "life of johnson", the various editions of the "spectator", etc.). given the availability of electronic (keyword searchable) editions of most of these classics, this seems to me a feeble excuse for editorial economy, but it does encourage a running rather than plodding engagement with the narrative. i especially recommend this book as preliminary to a visit to the national portrait gallery (london), where portraits of most of the men described here are on display.

Porter's last work is another page turner! What a gripping way of writing he has, packing in a wealth of information with such an engaging style. This book examines the attitude towards the 'flesh' or the body from a historic perspective. Drawing on his medical knowledge, as well as his deep familarity with the philosophical writers, Porter shows that the emergence of the scientific age resulted in the 'disappearance' of the 'soul' and the realization that flesh and soul, or spirit, are one. Hence, the implications for religious believers was, and still is, profound. No 'immortal soul', no afterlife; no afterlife, no god; no god, we are all alone; all alone, we live for ourselves and the society which help create us and the civil society in which we live. The enlightenment, especially in the writing of Adam Smith (Theory of Moral Sentiments) and David Hume, both inspired by Isacc Newton, certainly opened our eyes to the point where we cannot honestly close them again! This is certainly a liberating and 'enlightening' book.

Flesh in the Age of Reason is wonderful. I mean, I cannot give this book enough credit. One can easily find books on various aspects of Enlightenment period philosophy. Adams, Hume, Locke, et al., are easy to find. But, put into context with their day, their battles with each other, and the growth of their ideas in that context is something not as easily found. Roy Porter passed away just after finishing and publishing this work and it is a fitting end to his career. In fact, in retrospect, it seems a fitting exploration for one on the verge of death himself. Was Porter, aware that the end of his days was approaching, was he seeking to locate that final truth? I cannot say, but he certainly gave the rest of us who are still shuffling about this mortal coil a great resource to assist us in our own search. This book neatly "historicizes" the ebb and flow of Enlightenment philosophy and gives us all something to think about. Thanks Roy Porter and R.I.P.

I cannot believe no one has reviewed Roy Porter's last book. It reminds me of the Metaphysical Club, but it is perhaps a bit more wry. I enjoyed it thoroughly and have added it to my collection of books on the Enlightenment. It was simultaneously funny and intellectual stimulating. Also, Porter makes the subject of the Enlightmentment exciting.