Diderot
October 5, 1713
July 31, 1784
French man of letters and
philosopher
Rebecca Hover
Period 5
Early Life
Born on October 5, 1713 in Langres, Champagne, France to a
well-known cutler.
Diderot was first educated by the Jesuits in Langres from 1728
to 1732.
From 1729 to 1732 he studied in Paris at the College d'Harcourt
or at the Lycee Luois-le-Grand.
On September 2, 1732- received the master of art degrees from
the University of Paris.
Diderot then studied law as an articled clerk in the office of
Clement de Ris. He was more interested in languages, literature,
philosophy and higher mathematics.
To support his family he translated texts from English to French
Gained first notice in the 1740s as a translator of English
books.
Encyclopedie ou dictionnaire
raisonne des sciences, des arts et
des m'etiers
Thought of as one of the “monuments” of the Enlightenment.
Had 17 volumes of text and 11 illustrations. It displayed the achievements
of human learning in a single work
challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.
1745- Diderot became the chief editor of l' encylopedie along with
mathematician Jean Le Rond d'Alembert. He contributed hundred of
articles, which most of them were on social and religious philosophy. He
visited workshops and also factories. There he took notes on all types of
manufacturing practices. He also worked with an artists to produce detailed
illustrations.
The work of the Encylopedie took 26 years of his life.
L'encylopedie remains a valuable historical record of the economic
practices of the eighteenth century.
"The good of the people must be the great purpose of government.
By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors are invested with
power to that end. And the greatest good of the people is liberty. It is
to the state what health is to the individual."
Novels, dialogues, and plays
Composed most of his own works during
this time.
Diderot 's most famous plays were Le Fils
naturel and Le Pere de famille.
Jacques le fataliste and the dialog Le
Neveu de Rameau were two of Diderot's
most remarkable works.
He was also an art critic.
Essai sur la peinture (“ Essay on Painting” )
Also wrote Lettre sur les sourds et muets in
1751, Pennsees sur l'interpretation de la
nature in 1753, the novel le religieuse in
1760 and the dialogue Le neveu de
Rameau in 1761.
Lettre surle les aveugles
1749- published the Lettre surle
les aveugles, which was an
Essay on Blindness.
It was used to teach the blind how
to read with touch. It also
provided Louis Braille to follow in
the 19th century.
Diderot was arrested and sent
in the prison of Vincennes for
three months because his work
was viewed as “human
dependence on sense
impression.”
Late Life and works
1772- After the completion of l' Encylopedie,it left Diderot with no income.
Catherine the Great of Russia bought his library through an agent in Paris.
1773- moved to St.Petersburg and wrote her the plan d'une universite pour le
gouvernement de Russie.
1774- worked on a refutation of Helvetius' work De l'homme.
Wrote Entretien d'un philosophe avec la marechale and published Essai sure
les regnes de Claude et de Neron.
Died of emphysema and dropsy in Paris on July 31, 1784
Sources
"Denis Diderot." Www.kirjasto.sci.fi. Web. 30 Oct. 2010. <
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/diderot.htm>.
1757, By. "Denis Diderot - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page
- New World Encyclopedia. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Denis_Diderot>.
Niklaus, Robert. "EBSCOhost: Diderot, Denis." EBSCO Publishing
Service Selection Page. Web. 29 Oct. 2010. <
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=10&sid=0545e640-83e9-4834>
1757, By. "Denis Diderot - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page
- New World Encyclopedia. Web. 1 Nov. 2010. <
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Denis_Diderot>.
The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th ed. Vol. 4. Chicago:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2007. Print.