十八世紀初期英格蘭是文雅文化發揚的時代。在目前的學界討論中，笛福的著作與此文化之間的關係仍有討論的餘地。本文旨在透過將笛福的作品與咸認為文雅文化代表人物(如沙夫茨伯里與阿迪生)的著作比較，指出笛福與他們皆主張交談以及商業是文雅文化中的兩個關鍵，也將文雅文化再細緻分殊，指出他們各自針對的不同讀者。沙夫茨伯里針對的是貴族、阿迪生針對的是鄉紳中產階級，而笛福針對的則是商人階級及閱讀小報的群眾。本文以笛福的著作為主要史料，並輔以當代其他文雅作家的著作。本文第一部分介紹笛福的生平以及其中影響其對文雅看法的關鍵背景。第二部分則是概述文雅文化的實質內容以及學界之研究成果。第三部分探討交談在文雅文化中的重要性，無論是笛福、阿迪生或是沙夫茨伯里都認為唯有能夠進行有建設性的對話，方能夠培養出個人之文雅。第四部分是指出商業對於交談以及文雅的蓬勃發展所發揮的重要影響力，而笛福對這方面的著重高於其他作家，這又與其所設定的目標讀者有密切關係。本文強調笛福對交談的社會性意義與重要性之重視，論證笛福在英格蘭社會在內化文明禮貌的過程中扮演了重要角色。

Early eighteenth-century England saw a rise in the popularity of the concept of politeness, and ideals of politeness became well-established over the course of the century, its values and languages spreading through all aspects of England’s cultural world. In light of its importance, there are already established studies on representative theorists of politeness such as Joseph Addison and the Third Earl of Shaftesbury. However, in the current scholarship on politeness, the relationship between Defoe’s works and politeness culture is still being discussed. This essay compares Defoe’s works with the works of Addison and Shaftesbury. I observe that Defoe agrees with these thinkers that conversation and commerce are the two key factors in politeness culture. Furthermore, I suggest that there are different layers within this culture: Shaftesbury’s targeted readers were aristocrats, Addison’s were primarily members of the gentry, and Defoe’s were tradesmen. This article is divided into four parts: First, I present a brief biographical sketch of Defoe and the relevant scholarship on his involvement with politeness culture; second, I provide an overview of politeness culture in the early eighteenth century and the current scholarship on this topic; third, I focus on the role of conversation in the cultivation of politeness in Defoe’s works, showing how appropriate speaking and listening contributed to a polite society. Finally, I explore Defoe’s belief in the impact of commercial development on the promotion of appropriate conversation and politeness. This study thus highlights Defoe’s eagerness to propagate the values of moderate conversation and peaceful interaction in business to the lower middle classes, concluding that Defoe deserves to be regarded as a notable figure within the culture of politeness.

Daniel Defoe; polite culture; commercial society; The Spectato