Until a few years ago, the motto under which Switzerland presented itself at the 1992 World Exhibition in Seville, "La Suisse n'existe pas," aptly described European Enlightenment research. It was never disputed that Swiss scholars such as Albrecht von Haller, Johann Jakob Bodmer, the Bernoulli brothers, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, or Isaak Iselin made significant contributions to the European Enlightenment. However, depending on the linguistic and cultural context in which they operated, they were often naturally associated with either the German or French Enlightenment. This volume, on the other hand, pursues the thesis that the Enlightenment in Switzerland had its own character, which distinguished it from the Enlightenment in neighboring countries. The focus is on the political self-understanding of Swiss Enlighteners, which unfolded in the tension between cosmopolitanism and patriotism. On one hand, they saw themselves as part of that European movement aimed at a universal process of civilization and moralization. On the other hand, they were aware of their unique political heritage, which they sought to preserve: the republican constitution. The volume provides insight into central philosophical debates of the Enlightenment (on Leibniz-Wolff philosophy, enthusiasm, the moral progress of humanity, the future of religion) in which Switzerland was involved, across seven chapters. A comprehensive introduction connects these debates with the question of the unique character of the Swiss Enlightenment. It also explains why 18th-century Switzerland offers an important starting point for discussions about its future in the age of globalization.