Family, Gender, and Progress: Sophie de Grouchy and Her Exclusion in the Publication of Condorcet’s Sketch of Human Progress

Abstract

I examine some of the evidence for collaboration between Condorcet and Sophie de Grouchy on the writing of the Sketch of Human Progress, but also uncover the ways in which the publication and reception of that text worked to exclude a woman who was a philosopher in her own right from a work she clearly contributed to. I show that at least one passage that was added in the 1795 edition makes the work philosophically more interesting.

Sophie de Grouchy on the Problem of Economic Inequality

“…Scholars agree that Grouchy was republican. For more on the connection between Grouchy's works and neorepublican thought see Bergès (2015aBergès ( , 2015b, Tegos (2019), andGrouchy (2019, 39-41). For more on her place in the liberal tradition, see Schliesser (2017b).…”

“…There has been a great deal of recent discussion about the relation between feminism and republicanism during the Revolution. For more on this discussion, see Ball (2019), Bergès (2019), Coffee (2019), and Green (2019, 2021. out a meager existence by farming on land they did not own.…”

“…For more on these debates and about the relation between republicanism and commercialism generally, seeGroenewegen (1969),Pocock (1972),Hont and Ignatief (1983),Hont (2006),Rothschild (1992), and Bergès (2018b.…”

“…For more on Grouchy's connection to Condorcet's Sketch and to his work generally, seeBergès (2018a).…”