500 Quotations from the Great Philosophers of the 18th Century: intégrale

Written by Denis Diderot, Adam Smith, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg and 2 more

Narrated by Brad Carty

Known as the ‘Age of Enlightenment,’ the 1700s was a time that provoked significant leaps in philosophical thought.

Most importantly, the thinkers of the time espoused the virtues of happiness, the evidence provided by the senses, and the distance between organised religion and the state.

‘500 Quotations from the Great Philosophers of the 18th Century’ offers a fascinating insight into the philosophical revolution that was taking place at the time.

A superb book for dipping in and out of, this makes a great gift for anyone with an interest in philosophy.

Nicolas de Chamfort (1741 – 1794) was a political philosopher who attacked the French monarchy through antiroyalist writing. Also born in France, Denis Diderot (1713 – 1784) was a writer and central figure in the Age of Enlightenment.

Scottish economist, Adam Smith (1723 – 1790) wrote treatises on morality and economics. German physicist, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799) satirised superstition and wrote extensively about natural phenomena. Pierre Beaumarchais (1732 – 1799) was a French playwright, spy, diplomat, and watchmaker.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SAGA Egmont
• Release date: Jun 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9782821179165

Denis Diderot

Denis Diderot (1713-1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer of erotic fiction. Born into wealth, he studied philosophy at a Jesuit college before attempting to enter the clergy. In 1734, tiring of religion, he declared his wish to become a professional writer, and was disowned by his father. From this point onward, he lived as a bohemian in Paris, writing anonymous works of erotica, including The Talking Jewels (1748). In 1751, he cofounded the Encyclopédie, a controversial resource on the sciences that drew condemnation from the church and the French government. Despite his relative obscurity and lack of financial success, he was later recognized as a foundational figure in the radicalization of French society prior to the Revolution.