French 116: Studies in Renaissance French Culture and Literature – Equity or the Desire for Justice in Early Modern France

Instructor: Raphaëlle Burns

Equity has come to the fore in recent years as a key concept in campaigns for social justice. But what is equity and where does the term come from? This course will explore the classical roots of the concept of equity and its multifaceted revival in early modern French literature and thought. Students will be invited to think critically about the role of early modern approaches to equity in the shaping of present-day ethical and political discourses. Authors will include Rabelais, Marguerite de Navarre, Ronsard, Montaigne, Bodin, and Pascal. All works will be read and discussed in English, though attention to the French originals will be encouraged wherever possible.