Question

Which of the following is true regarding the salons of the eighteenth century?

a) They were exclusively a French phenomenon.
b) They excluded women.
c) They discussed social questions as well as literary works.
d) They were held exclusively at royal courts.

Answer 1

Salons in the eighteenth century were centers for the exchange of Enlightenment ideas and featured robust inclusion of women, especially elite women as hosts, and discussed an array of social and literary topics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The salons of the eighteenth century are true to statement c) They discussed social questions as well as literary works. These salons were influential settings for the exchange of Enlightenment ideas and were neither exclusively French nor held solely at royal courts.

They also included women, quite prominently in fact, as many salons were hosted and managed by elite women who played crucial roles in the cultural and intellectual spheres of the time.

Marie-Thérèse Geoffrin, Julie de Lespinasse, and Suzanne Necker were notable salon hostesses who impacted the flow and content of the salons' discussions. These venues were amongst the public's primary centers for philosophical discussion and intellectual socialization, which contributed significantly to the Enlightenment culture.