Who Was Denis Diderot?

Denis Diderot was a prominent philosopher during the Enlightenment period. He was born in 1713 and originally trained for the priesthood but abandoned the seminary in favour of writing. Diderot gained a reputation as a controversial writer and was even imprisoned in Vincennes for one of his works. He believed passionately in the possibilities of science and believed that everything could eventually be explained by science. He set these ideas out in his book "Penses sur l'interpretation de la nature". He believed that education and morals led to wisdom and improved morals.

Diderot said that civilisation brought corruption, tyranny and warfare. He called for "War of civilisation and a return to nature". His political views are unclear and it is fairest to say that he saw politics as a dilemma. He was the correspondent of Catherine the Great of Russia and he advised her to set up a Commission to codify the law. But in one of his writings he specifically rejects enlightened despotism.

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