About this ebook
In his Philosophical Principles on Matter and Motion (written around 1770 and published posthumously in 1792), Denis Diderot presented a major work in the materialist philosophy of the Enlightenment-era. Departing from the notion of inert matter, Diderot argued that matter is by nature active, possessing an internal force and a natural tendency towards motion. In a radical proposition for his time, he suggested that matter, when organized in specific ways and combined with other elements like heat and motion, could even give rise to sensitivity and life. This viewpoint led him to view the universe not as a static entity but as a relation and interconnected system characterized by perpetual flux and change, where opposing forces of being and non being, growth and decay are constantly at play. This edition contains a new Afterword by the translator, an extensive new biography on his life and works, a glossary of Philosophical erms used by Diderot, a chronology of his core life and works, and a summary index of all of Diderot's works. In Philosophical Principles on Matter and Motion (with Biography) , Diderot's Enlightenment-era prose is translated into clear modern English, with attention to the ideas and debates that shaped the work. Diderot's Philosophical Principles emerged within the intellectual ferment of the 18th century Enlightenment, a period that championed reason, empirical observation, and a critical study of established doctrines. His articulation of materialism positioned him within a growing movement that sought naturalistic explanations for phenomena, questioning traditional religious and metaphysical understandings of the world. The scientific advancements of the era, especially Newtonian physics and the principle of inertia, likely influenced Diderot's thinking, adding to his shift towards a more pronounced materialism. Scholarly interpretations of this work often stress Diderot's relation and vitalist conception of matter, distinguishing it from more purely mechanistic views prevalent at the time. His ideas are considered a central step in the development of materialist thought, with some scholars recognizing their meaning for understanding pre Marxist materialism.
In his Philosophical Principles on Matter and Motion (written around 1770 and published posthumously in 1792), Denis Diderot presented a major work in the materialist philosophy of the Enlightenment-era. Departing from the notion of inert matter, Diderot argued that matter is by nature active, po...
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About the author
Denis Diderot (1713 to 1784) was a French writer, philosopher, art critic, and editor. He directed much of the Encyclopédie, wrote fiction and drama, and produced essays on art, religion, natural philosophy, education, politics, and the material basis of mind.
Denis Diderot (1713 to 1784) was a French writer, philosopher, art critic, and editor. He directed much of the Encyclopédie, wrote fiction and drama, and produced essays on art, religion, natural philosophy, education, politics, and the material basis of mind.
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