Philosophy in the Bedroom Philosophy in the Bedroom Philosophy in the Boudoir ("La philosophie dans le boudoir") is a 1795 book by the Marquis de Sade written in the form of a dramatic dialogue. Though initially considered a work of pornography, the book has come to be considered a socio-political drama. Set in a bedroom, the two lead characters make the argument that the only moral system that reinforces the recent political revolution is libertinism, and that if the people of France fail to adopt the libertine philosophy, France will be destined to return to a monarchic state. In the chapter titled "Fifth Dialogue",
Paris in the 18th century banks and bankers. The "Bourse", or Paris stock market, did not open until 24 September 1724 on "rue Vivienne", in the former "hôtel de Nevers", long after stock markets had existed in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and other cities. The "Banque de France" was not founded until 1800, long after the Bank of Amsterdam (1609), and the Bank of England (1694). Throughout the 18th century, the government was unable to pay its mounting debts. As Saint-Simon wrote, the taxpayers of France were obliged to pay for "a war badly begun and badly supported, the greed of a prime minister, of