Vom Habitus der Selbstverbesserung. Vorsätze und Reflexion in den Tagebüchern des Lausanners Philippe Secretan (1756–1826)

The Habitus of Self-improvement. Resolution and Reflection in the Diaries of Lausanne’s Philippe Secretan (1756-1826) This paper examines the hitherto little-known diaries of Philippe Secretan (1756-1826) from Lausanne. Over a period of almost half a century (1778-1826), the young tutor, later judge and politician recorded in 18 volumes not only his experiences during this revolutionary period but also his personal ambitions. Secretan’s diary also documents his methods, which makes it a rich source for exploring the relationship between writing practices and self-improvement at the end of the Ancien Regime. Secretan used his diary as a medium to optimize himself. Accordingly, its analysis reveals various techniques and the diarist’s specific habitus of self-improvement.

Ancien regime · Diaries · French revolution · Habitus · Human Development · Judges · Lausanne · Politicians · Resolution · Self-Reflection · tutors · writing practices · Autobiographical and Biographical Writing · Libraries, Manuscripts, and Books · Rousseau and Enlightenment Thought