Definition

Proper noun: - Marquis de Condorcet: The title and name of Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat, an 18th-century French philosopher, mathematician, and political scientist. He is a significant figure of the Enlightenment, known for his work on probability, his advocacy for human rights, and his theory of social progress.

Usage and Examples

• As a historical figure:
  • The ideas of the Marquis de Condorcet on education and voting systems were far ahead of his time.
  • In his writings, Marquis de Condorcet argued for equal rights for all people, including women.
• Referencing his work:
  • The Condorcet method, named after Marquis de Condorcet, is a voting system that aims to elect the candidate who would win in a head-to-head election against every other candidate.

Advanced Usage

• "Condorcet" as a shorthand: In academic contexts, especially in philosophy, mathematics, and political science, the surname "Condorcet" is often used alone to refer to the man or his ideas.
  • The paradox of voting was first identified by Condorcet.
  • A Condorcet winner is a candidate preferred by a majority over every other candidate in pairwise comparisons.

Variants and Related Words

• Condorcet (noun): The common shorthand reference for the Marquis de Condorcet or concepts derived from his work.
  • We studied the Condorcet criterion in our political science class.
• Condorcetian (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of the ideas of Condorcet.
  • His Condorcetian optimism about human progress was influential.

Synonyms

• Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat: His full birth name.
• Nicolas de Condorcet: A common alternative formulation of his name.

Related Concepts and Terms

• Condorcet method (noun phrase): A family of voting systems based on his principles.
• Condorcet paradox (noun phrase): Also known as the voting paradox, a situation where collective preferences can be cyclic, even if individual preferences are not.
• Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind: The title of his most famous philosophical work, often called the .

Noun

1. French mathematician and philosopher (1743-1794)