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Denis Diderot

Definition

Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer during the Enlightenment era. He is best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie.

Analogy

Think of Denis Diderot as the director of a movie. Just like how a director oversees all aspects of film production, Diderot oversaw all aspects of creating the Encyclopédie. He didn't just write entries; he also edited others' contributions and made sure everything fit together in one cohesive work.

Related terms

Philosophes: These were public intellectuals during the Enlightenment who applied reason to study many areas of learning including philosophy, history, science, politics, economics and social issues.

Enlightenment: This was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated Europe during the 18th century. It emphasized reason over tradition and individualism over collectivism.

Secularism: This is the principle of separation between government institutions and religious institutions. During Enlightenment era it gained importance due to emphasis on logic & reasoning over religious beliefs.