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 conservatism 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'Alembert 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 it. 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 experimental 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
theoretical 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 professions 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 order of things in both Church and
State, and prepared the way for overt revolution.
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