Dark Matters

“A Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year 2021”
“Honorable Mention for the Journal of the History of Philosophy Book Prize”
“Van der Lugt succeeds brilliantly in her aim of setting aside the arid technical disputes in which philosophy often seems (at least to the layman) to be enmeshed, and applying it with compelling urgency to perennial and fundamental moral questions.”—Ritchie Robertson, Times Literary Supplement
“This is a highly readable, elegantly written and sophisticated study that even non-philosophers will find accessible and illuminating, and perhaps also inspiring.”—Steven Nadler, Literary Review
“Engaged and engaging.”—Julian Young, Society
“Reading this book is a rare event and something of an adventure in that it is as solidly argued as it is eloquent and as learned as it is moving. Those who feel philosophers no longer care to address truly vital issues are especially in for a treat.”—Wiep van Bunge, British Journal for the History of Philosophy
”[Van der Lugt] handles these ‘dark matters’—evil, suffering, suicide—with admirable delicacy. As such her book is an invaluable source for anyone interested in the history of human thinking about evil and suffering, hope and consolation.”—Maikki Aakko, Heythrop Journal
“Prospective readers of Dark Matters should come to this work first of all for van der Lugt’s masterclass in exegesis of Enlightenment philosophy and cultural criticism. Readers should stay for her personal insights into the problem of suffering and her ingenious insistence on pessimism as a moral source. Don’t be fooled by its somber title; Dark Matters is a treasure-trove of moral argument and inspired philosophical insights that left this reader consoled and hopeful.”—David Greder, Reading Religion
“A monumental achievement.” * The Philosopher *

Mara van der Lugt is lecturer in philosophy at the University of St Andrews, where she specializes in early modern intellectual history and philosophy. She is the author of Bayle, Jurieu, and the “Dictionnaire Historique et Critique.”

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