Nicolas de Condorcet | |
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Portrait of Marquis of Condorcet by Jean-Baptiste Greuze (ca. 1780-90)
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Member of the National Convention for Aisne |
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In office 20 September 1792 – 8 July 1793 |
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Preceded by | Louis-Jean-Samuel Joly de Bammeville |
Succeeded by |
Vacant (1794–1795) Successor unknown |
Constituency | Saint-Quentin |
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Seine |
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In office 6 September 1791 – 6 September 1792 |
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Succeeded by | Joseph François Laignelot |
Constituency | Paris |
Personal details | |
Born |
Ribemont, Picardy, France |
17 September 1743
Died | 28 March 1794 Bourg-la-Reine, France |
(aged 50)
Political party | Girondin |
Spouse(s) | Sophie de Condorcet (m. 1786; d. 1794) |
Children | Alexandrine de Caritat de Condorcet |
Alma mater | College of Navarre |
Profession | Scholar, mathematician, philosopher |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Philosophy career |
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Notable work | Girondin constitutional project, Progress of the Human Mind |
Era | 18th century |
Region | Western Philosophers |
School | Enlightenment |
Main interests
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Mathematics, politics |
Notable ideas
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Condorcet criterion, Condorcet's jury theorem, Condorcet method, Voting paradox |
Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat, Marquis of Condorcet (French: [maʁi ʒɑ̃n‿ɑ̃twan nikola də kaʁita kɔ̃dɔʁsɛ]; 17 September 1743 – 28 March 1794), known as Nicolas de Condorcet, was a French philosopher, mathematician, and early political scientist whose Condorcet method in voting tally selects the candidate who would beat each of the other candidates in a run-off election. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he advocated a liberal economy, free and equal public instruction, constitutionalism, and equal rights for women and people of all races. His ideas and writings were said to embody the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment and rationalism, and remain influential to this day. He died a mysterious death in prison after a period of flight from French Revolutionary authorities.
Condorcet was born in Ribemont (in present-day Aisne), and descended from the ancient family of Caritat, who took their title from the town of Condorcet in Dauphiné, of which they were long-time residents. Fatherless at a young age, he was raised by his devoutly religious mother. He was educated at the Jesuit College in Reims and at the Collège de Navarre in Paris, where he quickly showed his intellectual ability, and gained his first public distinctions in mathematics. When he was sixteen, his analytical abilities gained the praise of Jean le Rond d'Alembert and Alexis Clairaut; soon, Condorcet would study under d'Alembert.