Perception of God in the Pornographic Philosphy during the XVIII Century: Marquis de Sade and Thérèse Philosophe

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the ideas of God inferred in the XVIII Century erotic literature regarding the phenomenon of the Enlightenment that beyond being a philosophical movement based on reason and critical with respect to the Old Regime, it was also a mentality or "spirit of the age" focused on illustrating the religion, faith in progress, ethical construction and the pursuit of happiness. Within the "Pornographic philosophy" we will distinguish between a variant of "classic illustrated mentality" represented by Teresa Philosopher and a "late enlightened mentality" expressed in the work of the Marquis de Sade.