"The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth-Century Philosophers"

"The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth-Century Philosophers" is a book by Jonathan Israel that explores how Enlightenment thinkers envisioned a future society based on reason, scientific progress, and human rights. These philosophers believed that human improvement was possible through education and rationality, aiming to create a more just, tolerant, and enlightened world. The title references a metaphorical "heavenly city" representing this ideal society, contrasting it with traditional religious visions and emphasizing the Enlightenment's focus on secular, human-centered progress. The book highlights the revolutionary ideas that shaped modern liberal thinking and values.