# Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat de Condorcet

> French philosopher, mathematician, and political scientist (1743–1794)

**Wikidata**: [Q201477](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q201477)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_de_Condorcet)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jean-antoine-nicolas-de-caritat-de-condorcet

## Summary
Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat de Condorcet was a French philosopher, mathematician, and political scientist of the 18th century. He is best known for his contributions to social choice theory, particularly the development of the Condorcet method and the identification of the Condorcet paradox, which have had a lasting impact on voting theory and democratic processes.

## Biography
- Born: September 17, 1743, in Ribemont, France
- Nationality: French
- Education: Studied at the Collège de Navarre, University of Paris
- Known for: Development of the Condorcet method and the Condorcet paradox in voting theory
- Employer(s): French Academy of Sciences, various government roles during the French Revolution
- Field(s): Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Economics

## Contributions
Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat de Condorcet made significant contributions across multiple disciplines:
- **Condorcet Paradox**: A concept in social choice theory observing that collective preferences can be cyclic, even when individual preferences are not.
- **Condorcet Method**: An electoral system that chooses the candidate who would win in a pairwise election against all other candidates.
- **Condorcet Criterion**: An electoral system criterion stating that the plurality winner in a pairwise election should be chosen.
- **"Essai sur l'application de l'analyse à la probabilité des décisions rendues à la pluralité des voix" (Essay on the Application of Analysis to the Probability of Majority Decisions)**: Published in 1785, this work laid the foundation for social choice theory and introduced the Condorcet paradox.
- **"De l'influence de l'Europe sur l'Amerique" (On the Influence of Europe on America)**: A philosophical and political work examining the impact of European ideas on American society.
- **"Vie de Voltaire" (Life of Voltaire)**: A biographical work on the life and influence of Voltaire, published in 1789.
- **"Sur l'admission des femmes au droit de cité" (On the Admission of Women to the Rights of Citizenship)**: A pioneering feminist essay advocating for women's rights and education.
- **"Tableau historique des progrès de la révolution française" (Historical Sketch of the Progress of the French Revolution)**: A historical analysis of the French Revolution, published in 1796.
- **"Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain" (Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind)**: Published posthumously in 1795, this work is a foundational text in the philosophy of progress and human development.

## FAQs
### What is the Condorcet paradox?
The Condorcet paradox, identified by Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat de Condorcet, is an observation in social choice theory that collective preferences can be cyclic, even when individual preferences are not. This paradox demonstrates that majority preferences can be inconsistent, which has significant implications for voting systems and democratic theory.

### What is the Condorcet method?
The Condorcet method is an electoral system developed by Condorcet that selects the candidate who would win in a pairwise election against all other candidates. It is a method of voting that aims to find the candidate who is preferred by the majority in all possible head-to-head elections.

### What are some of Condorcet's major works?
Condorcet's major works include "Essai sur l'application de l'analyse à la probabilité des décisions rendues à la pluralité des voix" (1785), "Vie de Voltaire" (1789), "Sur l'admission des femmes au droit de cité", and "Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain" (1795).

### What was Condorcet's contribution to women's rights?
Condorcet was a pioneer in advocating for women's rights. His work "Sur l'admission des femmes au droit de cité" argued for the inclusion of women in the rights of citizenship, making him one of the early proponents of gender equality.

### What is the significance of Condorcet's "Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain"?
Published posthumously in 1795, this work is a foundational text in the philosophy of progress and human development. It outlines Condorcet's belief in the perfectibility of human society through reason and education, and it has had a lasting impact on liberal and progressive thought.

## Why They Matter
Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat de Condorcet's work laid the groundwork for modern social choice theory and had a profound influence on democratic theory and practice. His insights into voting systems, particularly the Condorcet method and the Condorcet paradox, continue to be relevant in contemporary discussions about fair voting and electoral reform. His advocacy for human rights, including women's rights, and his belief in the perfectibility of human society through reason and education, have left a lasting legacy in political philosophy. His ideas have influenced generations of thinkers and continue to shape debates on justice, equality, and human development.

## Notable For
- Development of the Condorcet method, a pairwise-comparison electoral system
- Identification of the Condorcet paradox, which demonstrates the potential for cyclic collective preferences in voting
- Pioneering work in social choice theory and voting theory
- Advocacy for women's rights in "Sur l'admission des femmes au droit de cité"
- Contributions to the philosophy of progress in "Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain"
- Influence on the French Revolution through his political and philosophical writings
- Member of the French Academy of Sciences
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat de Condorcet was born on September 17, 1743, in Ribemont, France. He was a prodigious student, showing early aptitude in mathematics and philosophy. He studied at the Collège de Navarre and later at the University of Paris, where he was exposed to the leading intellectual currents of the Enlightenment. His early education laid the foundation for his later contributions to mathematics, philosophy, and political science.

### Career and Academic Affiliations
Condorcet's career was marked by his association with some of the leading intellectual and political institutions of his time:
- **French Academy of Sciences**: Condorcet was elected to the French Academy of Sciences, where he conducted research in mathematics and contributed to the scientific discourse of the day.
- **Member of the French Revolution**: During the French Revolution, Condorcet was actively involved in political life, contributing to the development of the new French state.
- **Writer and Philosopher**: He was a prolific writer, producing works on mathematics, philosophy, and political science that influenced the course of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

### Mathematical and Philosophical Contributions
Condorcet's work in mathematics and philosophy was groundbreaking:
- **Social Choice Theory**: His 1785 work "Essai sur l'application de l'analyse à la probabilité des décisions rendues à la pluralité des voix" introduced the concept of the Condorcet paradox and laid the foundation for social choice theory.
- **Voting Theory**: He developed the Condorcet method, an electoral system that selects the candidate who would win in a pairwise election against all other candidates, and the Condorcet criterion for evaluating electoral systems.
- **Influence on the French Revolution**: His political writings, including "Vie de Voltaire" and "Sur l'admission des femmes au droit de cité", influenced the intellectual climate of the French Revolution.

### Political and Social Advocacy
Condorcet was not only a mathematician and philosopher but also a committed advocate for human rights and social progress:
- **Women's Rights**: In "Sur l'admission des femmes au droit de cité", he argued for the inclusion of women in the rights of citizenship, making a significant contribution to early feminist thought.
- **Human Progress**: His "Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain" outlined a vision of human perfectibility through reason and education, influencing the development of liberal and progressive thought.

### Legacy and Influence
Condorcet's influence extends far beyond his immediate contributions:
- **Social Choice Theory**: His work on voting theory has had a lasting impact on the field, influencing subsequent generations of political scientists and economists.
- **Human Rights Advocacy**: His advocacy for women's rights and education has made him a foundational figure in the history of human rights.
- **Philosophy of Progress**: His vision of human perfectibility has influenced the development of liberal democracy and the belief in the possibility of social progress through reason and education.

Condorcet's work continues to be studied and debated, and his ideas remain relevant in contemporary discussions about justice, equality, and human development. His contributions to social choice theory, political philosophy, and human rights advocacy have left a lasting legacy that continues to shape the modern world.

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