2017, Vol., No.37

Korean Review of French History 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 1.67

pISSN : 1229-702X
https://journal.kci.go.kr/krfh

This study aims to re-interpret Pico della Mirandola’s famous work, Oratio de hominis dignitate, from a new viewpoint. At first, by having an eye on the fact that the main theme of Oratio is an exercise in praise of philosophy, this study claims that Pico’s perspective on man was based on the philosophical and intellectualistic anthropology. Secondly, it argues that Pico regarded philosophy as a necessary but insufficient element in man’s spiritual pilgrimage back to God. Considering this, the man Pico highly acclaimed was not so much an autonomous being as a passive one annihilating his own self for returning to God. In conclusion, Pico was an moral ontologist who put much emphasis on man’s pursuit of the best life among many options given to him.

This article deals with the way in which historical memories of the late 15th century’s rebellion of Flemish cities are recorded in the Mémoires of Olivier de La Marche. The chapters 11-15 in Part II of this book recount the political and military struggles of the Flemish cities, especially those of Ghent against the Maximilian of Habsburg between 1482-1492. La Marche emphasizes Maximilian’s wisdom, mercy to the people, qualities as a monarch, and outstanding military ability. On the other hand, the author depicts Flemish people as men of humble birth, incompetent, fickle, treacherous, filled with complaints, and ignorant of their prince’s intention. La Marche also portrays the Flemish nobles who led and supported the revolt of the cities of Flanders as potential traitors in favor of the French king. Futhermore, La Marche’s text reveals, indirectly and unintentionally, a sense of solidarity between Flemish aristocracy and bourgeois.

For Victor Schoelcher, the proclamation of emancipation in 1848 marked a pinnacle in the long political career of “the Liberator.” The 1848 proclamation was very radical in that it immediately abolished colonial slavery without any intermediary term, and bestowed full citizenship and political rights on the freed people. His project of making the colonies an integral part of the French Republic founded colonial assimilationism. Focusing on the theories and practices of universal citizenship enshrined in the 1848 emancipation, this article examines both paradoxes and possibilities of Schoelcher’s republican assimilationism, thereby illuminating the complicated legacies of 1848.