The Biography of Denis Diderot

Denis Diderot

Born in Langres son of a master cutler, Denis Diderot following his studies with the Jesuits, then at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand and becomes master of Art in 1732. He led until his marriage, in 1743, a life bohemian who made him lose faith. During this period, he met Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

In his "Philosophical Thoughts" (1746), Diderot violently attacked Christianity and calls for a natural religion. His initial faith turns into deism and then goes through a phase of skepticism before opting frankly for materialism in "Letter on the Blind and the use of those who see" (1749) which causes his imprisonment in the castle of Vincennes for three months. Denis Diderot, the only criterion which meets the knowledge is experience. It argues that there is only one substance, material, and that the process of transition from mineral to life is continuous. This theory can be considered as an intuition of transformation of Lamarck.

Diderot was charged in 1747 by the bookseller Le Breton direct with the work of Alembert Encyclopedia. It is dedicated for over twenty years a real editor work that provides awareness. The first volume was published in 1751 and the last in 1772.

Parallel to the Encyclopedia, Diderot continues his literary work while leading an eclectic and tumultuous life. His novels, criticism, and philosophical essays, many of which will be published after his death show the concern to define the true nature of man and his place in the world. Diderot proposes a universal moral foundation, not on God but on natural human feelings and reason.
His health is fragile, Diderot slows its publications from 1776 and died in 1784