ORIGINS OF MODERNITY

philosophy

Diderot, Denis (1713-1784)
Encyclopédie, ou, Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des metiers, par une société de gens de letters. (17 volumes)
A Paris : chez Briasson, David, Le Breton, Durand, 1751-65.

The crowning achievement of the French Enlightenment, the Encyclopédie was edited by Denis Diderot with a 'Preliminary discourse' by Jean D'Alembert. It is structured in the tradition of Pierre Bayle and its contours and vocabulary bear the stamp of Locke. Contributors included Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu. It was suppressed in 1759 by royal decree because of its anti-clerical and humanistic tone.