Houston, Texas, 10-11 décembre 2021 : colloque sur les Lettres persanes Conference on the 300th Anniversary of Montesquieu’s Persian Letters

, par Volpilhac-Auger, Catherine

Conference on the 300th Anniversary of Montesquieu’s Persian Letters

December 10-11 at the University of Houston

In-person and on Zoom

Preliminary Program

Day 1. Friday, Dec. 10th

Session #1 3:00-4:15 p.m.

Discussion Leader : Constantine Vassiliou, University of Houston

Presenters :

Robert Sparling, University of Ottawa : “Desire, Domination, and the Struggle for Recognition in Montesquieu’s Seraglio”

Rebecca Kingston, University of Toronto : “A Mediated Dialogue on Monarchy : Montesquieu’s Response to Bodin through the Persian Letters

Session #2 4:45-6:00 p.m. (in-person)
Discussion Leader : Jeffrey Church, University of Houston

Presenters :

Lee Ward, Baylor University : “The Role of Female Modesty in Montesquieu’s Persian Letters and its Mandevillean Parallels”

Megan Gallagher, University of Alabama : “Rica in Paris : Sensibility and Cosmopolitanism in the Persian Letters"

Day 2. Saturday, Dec. 11th

Session #3 10:00-11:15 a.m.
Discussion Leader : Diana Schaub, Loyola University Maryland

Presenters :
John Scott, UC Davis : “What Did Usbek Know and When Did He Know It ? The Double Ordering of the Persian Letters” 


Stuart Warner, "The Book of Relations : Reflections from Persian Letters"

Session #4 : 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Discussion Leader : Michael Mosher, University of Tulsa

Presenters :

Constantine Vassiliou (UH)/Emily Nacol (University of Toronto) : “The Plague of High Finance in Montesquieu’s Persian Letters"

Ryan Hanley, Boston College : “The Political Economy of the Persian Letters

Session #5 1:30-2:45 p.m.
Discussion Leader : Rebecca Kingston, University of Toronto

Andrea Radanasu : “Law of Nations and the Pitfalls of Abstract Ideals” 


Michael Mosher : “Temporality and the Skeptical Temperament : The Futures of the Persian Letters

Session #6 : 3:00-4:15 p.m.

Discussion Leader : Stuart Warner, Roosevelt University

Presenters :

Vickie Sullivan, Tufts University : “Hiding in Plain Sight : Montesquieu as a Friendly Influence in the Persian Letters"

Peter Lund, University of Houston : “The Unknown Chains of Enlightenment : the Irony of Philosophy or an Ironic Philosopher”