Denis Diderot's Enlightened Encyclopedia

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Name: Azra Kelecija
Professor: Amer Dardagan
Subject: HIST 102, Spring 2018
Date: 12.06.2018

Diderot's Enlightened Encyclopedia During the mid and late 18th century, the Encyclopédie or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts was published in France. The Encyclopédie represents one of the most important works of literature that were published in France during the Enlightenment period. Denis Diderot was among the greatest contributors to the creation of the Enlightened Encyclopedia. In the following text, the focus will be on Diderot’s Enlightened Encyclopedia and its formation. In order to understand the creation of the Encyclopédie, it is first important to know the historical background. The Encyclopédie …show more content…

It is interesting to note that the Encyclopédie had a number of contributors, many of whom were never named. Denis Diderot would serve as the main editor of the Encyclopédie. However, Jean le Rond d'Alembert also helped in the editing process up until 1759. Diderot’s Encyclopedia was also the first encyclopedia to truly explain the mechanical arts. The idea to create an encyclopedia full of information about the world was not necessarily a new idea. Ephraim Chambers's Cyclopaedia from 1728 would serve as an inspiration for Diderot and other intellectuals. The success of Ephraim Chambers's Cyclopaedia would lead to many translations, and was eventually translated to French. In 1745, a prospectus for the Encyclopédie was released to the public, in order to attract any potential subscribers. The prospectus would go on to receive positive reviews from critics. The French publisher, André Le Breton, took over the project and hired several editors. Among those hired was Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, Jean le Rond d'Alembert, Jean Paul de Gua de Malves, and Denis Diderot. Due to the incompetence of some of the editors, Denis Diderot would go on to edit the Encyclopédie for some twenty-five years. After decades of writing, the Encyclopédie had twenty-eight volumes,

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