A Happy Life. Women's Moral Philosophy in 17th- and 18th-Century Scandinavia

What does it mean to be happy? And how do we achieve happiness?

This project explores how women intellectuals discussed earthly happiness in 17^th- and 18^th-century Scandinavia. Over the course of this period, an older, Stoic and Lutheran conception of happiness became increasingly challenged by a new idea about the “pursuit of happiness” as a human right. Moreover, from the middle of the 17^th century to the end of the 18^th, increasing numbers of women authors began to make their voices heard in Scandinavia. Many of these women philosophized about happiness. But they often did so in unconventional genres and modes. Therefore, their thoughts have hitherto not been recognized or thoroughly considered by researchers. By studying hymnals and prayer books, autobiographies, poems, pamphlets and novels, this project seeks to change that, by 1) understanding how and where women intellectuals intervened in contemporary debates about happiness, and 2) investigating what they had to say about the good life.

This is achieved by closely reading the writings of the following ten Scandinavian women: Birgitte Thott, Agneta Horn, Dorothe Engelbretsdatter, Christina Regina von Birchenbaum, Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht, Charlotta Frölich, Françoise Marguerite Janiçon, Charlotte Schimmelmann, Charlotta Dorothea Biehl och Sophie Baden.