-Caveat Lector-
From
http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/e/encylop.htm
}}}>Begin
Encyclopedists
"Encyclopedists" is the name usually applied to the group of French
philosophers and men of letters who collaborated in the production of
the famous Encyclopedie, or were in sympathy with its principles. The
work was planned by Denis Diderot, and was announced as a
Dictionnaire raisonne des sciences, des arts, et des metiers. The
intention was to provide a complete alphabetical treatment of the
whole field of human knowledge from the standpoint of the
"Enlightenment". The contributors included a number of remarkable
men. First in importance, acting with Diderot on equal terms, was
D'Alembert. A large part of the work was done by the Chevalier de
Jaucourt, a man of encyclopedic learning. When he died in 1755,
Montesquieu left behind an unfinished article on "Taste." Voltaire
wrote some articles, and constantly advised on the development of the
plan. Roussear contributed articles on music, but ultimately
quarreled with the editors, whose plan was so different from his.
Turgot wrote on economic subjects, and in the latter part of the work
Haller, the physiologist, and Conddorcet were engaged.
The first volume appeared in 1751, the second in the following January, and
immediately excited the antagonism of the Church and the conservatives. On February
12, 1752, the two volumes were suppressed by the Council, as
containing maxims contrary to royal authority and to religion. Further publication was
suspended for eighteen months, but from 1753 to 1757 it went on without interruption.
After the seventh volume, the forces of conserva
tism rallied to a fresh attack. The sale of the volumes already printed; as well as
the printing of any more, was forbidden. Diderot, however, made his plans to continue
privately to prepare the remaining volumes. D'Alemb
ert withdrew, but Diderot toiled on and completed the work (28 volumes, Paris,
1751-72). Andre Franois Lebreton acquired a large interest in the undertaking and all
the contributions were set up as they were written, but
when Diderot had corrected the last proof, Lebreton and his foreman, without informing
his partners, secretly cut out such parts from each articles as he thought too radical
or likely to give offense. In this way many of
the best articles were mutilated, and to prevent the restoration of the eliminated
matter, Lebreton burned the original manuscripts. Subsequently a supplement was
published (5 volumes, Amsterdam, Paris, 1776-77), also an
index (2 volumes, 17880).
The Encyclopedie was both a repository of information and a polemical arsenal. It was
an idea of the editors that if civilization should by entirely destroyed, mankind
might turn to their volumes to learn to reconstruct i
t. No other collection of general information so large and so useful was then in
existence. Yet mere learning was not what lay nearest to the hearts of Diderot and his
fellows; the prided themselves even more on the firm
and bold philosophy of some of the writers. The metaphysics is founded chiefly on
Locke, who "may be said to have created metaphysics as Newton created physics," by
reducing the science to "what in fact should be the expe
rimental physics of the soul." Beyond this there is little unity of opinion, though
the same spirit rules throughout. It includes a prejudice in favor of democracy, as
the ideal form of government, and the worship of theo
retical equality, but contempt for the populace, "which discern"; the reduction of
religion to sentiments of morality and benevolence, and great dislike for its
minister, especially the religious orders. By its generous p
rofessions of philosophic tolerance, and apparent acquiescence in what for the moment
it was too weak to overpower, the philosophic school won a hearing for doctrines which
were essentially subversive of the established o
rder of things in both Church and State, and prepared the way for overt revolution.
IEP
� 1996
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
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"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
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A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled
one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller,
German Writer (1759-1805)
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It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that
prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell
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"Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
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