Encyclopedic Liberty : Political Articles in the Dictionary of Diderot and D’Alembert

Often described as the culmination of the French Enlightenment, the Encyclopédie was collected not only to serve as a comprehensive reference work, but to “change the way men think” about every aspect of the human and natural worlds. In his celebrated “Preliminary Discourse” to the compilation, d'Alembert traced an entire history of modern philosophy and science designed to chart the way toward a sweeping Baconian project of improving the world through usable knowledge. This anthology is the first endeavor to bring together the most significant political writing from the entire twenty-million-word compendium. It includes eighty-one of the most original, controversial, and representative articles on political ideas, practices, and institutions, many translated into English for the first time. The articles cover such topics as the foundations of political order, the relationship between natural and civil liberty, the different types of constitutional regimes, the role of the state in economic and religious affairs, and the boundaries between manners, morals, and laws. In addition to Diderot's early and important articles “Political Authority,” the “Citizen,” and “Natural Right” and the substantial treatments of subjects such as the “Legislator” (by Saint-Lambert), “Representation” (by d'Holbach), “Population” (by Damilaville), and “Political Economy” (by Quesnay), the anthology will also introduce to many English-language readers the tireless figure of Chevalier Louis de Jaucourt (1704–80), who wrote about 18,000 articles, or about 25 percent of the Encyclopédie. Jaucourt's numerous articles on political topics did much to solidify the new political teachings of the natural-law tradition, the English Whig writers, the Huguenot diaspora, and particularly Montesquieu, whose Spirit of the Laws had appeared shortly before the first volume of the Encyclopédie itself. Henry C. Clark is a Visiting Professor in the Political Economy Project at Dartmouth College. He has written two books and numerous articles, mainly on the French and Scottish Enlightenments. Christine Dunn Henderson is a Senior Fellow at Liberty Fund. Cover Half Title Page, p. i Frontispiece, p. ii Frontispiece, p. iii Full Title Page, p. v Copyright Page, p. vi Contents, p. vii Alphabetical List of Articles, p. xiii Introduction, p. xvii Contributors, p. xxv A Note on the Text, p. xli Translators' Note, p. xliii A Note on Currency, p. xlix Acknowledgments, p. li Part: Encyclopedic Liberty, p. 1 Volume 1 (1751), p. 1 The Divine Voice (Aius-Locutius), p. 3 Political Arithmetic (Arithmétique Politique), p. 5 Political Authority (Autorité Politique), p. 12 Volume 2 (1752), p. 21 Brownists (Brownistes), p. 23 Celibacy (Célibat), p. 26 Volume 3 (1753), p. 45 Masterpiece (Chef-d'Œuvre), p. 47 Citizen (Citoyen), p. 49 Trading Company (Compagnie de Commerce), p. 55 Competition (Concurrence), p. 65 Conquest (Conquête), p. 68 Volume 4 (1754), p. 75 Public Corruption (Corruption Publique), p. 77 Democracy (Démocratie), p. 78 Despotism (Despotisme), p. 86 Volume 5 (1755), p. 95 Natural Right (Droit Naturel), p. 97 Natural Law (Droit de la Nature), p. 103 Public Law (Droit Public), p. 113 Natural Equality (Egalité Naturelle), p. 119 Eulogy for President Montesquieu (Eloge de M. le Président de Montesquieu), p. 122 Child (Enfant), p. 139 Savings (Epargne), p. 145 Pin (Epingle), p. 165 Slavery (Esclavage), p. 167 Volume 6 (1756), p. 185 State of Nature (Etat de Nature), p. 187 Compound States (Etats Composés), p. 193 Volume 7 (1757), p. 197 Foundation (Fondation), p. 199 Gallantry (Galanterie), p. 209 Geneva (Genève), p. 211 Government (Gouvernement), p. 227 Cereals (Grains), p. 239 Volume 8 (1765), p. 257 Habeas Corpus, p. 259 Man (Homme), p. 261 Honor (Honneur), p. 264 Poorhouse (Hôpital), p. 274 Tax (Impôt), p. 278 Indissoluble, p. 288 Industry (Industrie), p. 289 Innovation, p. 294 Intendants (Intendans), p. 295 Invention, p. 300 Volume 9 (1765), p. 305 Legislator (Législateur), p. 307 Legislation (Législation), p. 328 Natural Liberty (Liberté Naturelle), p. 329 Civil Liberty (Liberté Civile), p. 331 Political Liberty (Liberté Politique), p. 333 Liberty; Inscription, Medals (Liberté), p. 335 Liberty; Mythology, Iconology (Liberté), p. 337 Law (Loi), p. 339 Fundamental Law (Loi Fondamentale), p. 349 Lübeck, p. 351 Machiavellianism (Machiavélisme), p. 353 Masterships (Maîtrises), p. 356 Volume 10 (1765), p. 371 Manners (Manière), p. 373 Mores (Mœurs), p. 380 Monarchy (Monarchie), p. 382 Absolute Monarchy (Monarchie Absolue), p. 386 Elective Monarchy (Monarchie Elective), p. 388 Limited Monarchy (Monarchie Limitée), p. 391 Volume 11 (1765), p. 393 Trade (Négoce), p. 395 Political Economy (Œconomie Politique), p. 397 Volume 12 (1765), p. 449 English Parliament (Parlement d'Angleterre), p. 451 Country (Patrie), p. 463 Patriot (Patriote), p. 473 Volume 13 (1765), p. 477 Population, p. 479 Power (Pouvoir), p. 529 Press (Presse), p. 532 Property (Propriété), p. 534 Legislative, Executive Power (Puissance Législative, Exécutrice), p. 536 Volume 14 (1765), p. 539 Representatives (Représentans), p. 541 Republic (République), p. 553 Federal Republic (République Fédérative), p. 556 Rutland, p. 560 Savages (Sauvages), p. 568 Volume 15 (1765), p. 571 Civil Society (Société Civile), p. 573 Sovereigns (Souverains), p. 574 Switzerland (Suisse), p. 579 Sussex, p. 588 Volume 16 (1765), p. 595 Temples of Liberty (Temples de la Liberté), p. 597 Toleration (Tolérance), p. 598 Traffic in Blacks (Traite des Nègres), p. 612 Tyranny (Tyrannie), p. 615 Volume 17 (1765), p. 621 Five Percent Tax (Vingtième), p. 623 Bibliography, p. 721 Index, p. 733 Colophon, p. 780 Often Described As The Culmination Of The French Enlightenment, The Encyclopédie Was Collected To Not Only Serve As A Comprehensive Reference Work, But To Change The Way Men Think About Every Aspect Of The Human And Natural Worlds. In His Celebrated “preliminary Discourse” To The Compilation, D’alembert Traced An Entire History Of Modern Philosophy And Science Designed To Chart The Way Toward A Sweeping Baconian Project Of Improving The World Through Usable Knowledge. This Anthology Is The First Endeavor To Bring Together The Most Significant Political Writing From The Entire Twenty-million-word Compendium. It Includes Eighty-one Of The Most Original, Controversial And Representative Articles On Political Ideas, Practices, And Institutions, Many Translated Into English For The First Time.^ The Articles Cover Such Topics As The Foundations Of Political Order, The Relationship Between Natural And Civil Liberty, The Different Types Of Constitutional Regimes, The Role Of The State In Economic And Religious Affairs, And The Boundaries Between Manners, Morals, And Laws. In Addition To Diderot’s Early And Important Articles “political Authority,” The “citizen,” And “natural Right” And The Substantial Treatments Of Subjects Such As The “legislator” (by Saint-lambert), Representation (by D’holbach), Population (by Damilaville), And Political Economy (by Quesnay), The Anthology Will Also Introduce To Many English-language Readers The Tireless Figure Of Chevalier Louis De Jaucourt (1704–80), Who Wrote About 18,000 Articles, Or About 25 Percent Of The Encyclopédie.^ Jaucourt’s Numerous Articles On Political Topics Did Much To Solidify The New Political Teachings Of The Natural-law Tradition, The English Whig Writers, The Huguenot Diaspora, And Particularly Montesquieu, Whose Spirit Of The Laws Had Appeared Shortly Before The First Volume Of The Encyclopédie Itself. -- Edited And With An Introduction By Henry C. Clark ; Translated By Henry C. Clark And Christine Dunn Henderson. Translated From The French. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Often described as the culmination of the French Enlightenment, the Encyclopédie was collected to not only serve as a comprehensive reference work, but to "change the way men think" about every aspect of the human and natural worlds. In his celebrated "Preliminary Discourse" to the compilation, d'Alembert traced an entire history of modern philosophy and science designed to chart the way toward a sweeping Baconian project of improving the world through usable knowledge. This anthology is the first endeavor to bring together the most significant political writing from the entire twenty-million-word compendium. It includes eighty-one of the most original, controversial and representative articles on political ideas, practices, and institutions, many translated into English for the first time. The articles cover such topics as the foundations of political order, the relationship between natural and civil liberty, the different types of constitutional regimes, the role of the state in economic and religious affairs, and the boundaries between manners, morals, and laws. In addition to Diderot's early and important articles "Political Authority," the "Citizen," and "Natural Right" and the substantial treatments of subjects such as the "Legislator" (by Saint-Lambert), "Representation" (by d'Holbach), "Population" (by Damilaville), and "Political Economy" (by Quesnay), the anthology will also introduce to many English-language readers the tireless figure of Chevalier Louis de Jaucourt (1704-80), who wrote about 18,000 articles, or about 25 percent of the Encyclopédie. Jaucourt's numerous articles on political topics did much to solidify the new political teachings of the natural-law tradition, the English Whig writers, the Huguenot diaspora, and particularly Montesquieu, whose Spirit of the Laws had appeared shortly before the first volume of the Encyclopédie itself. -- Provided by Publisher Denis Diderot / Encyclopedic Liberty, (2016) -- Front Matter -- Half Title Page, p. i -- Frontispiece, p. ii -- Frontispiece, p. iii -- Full Title Page, p. v -- Copyright Page, p. vi -- Contents, p. vii -- Alphabetical List of Articles, p. xiii -- Introduction, p. xvii -- Contributors, p. xxv -- A Note on the Text, p. xli -- Translators' Note, p. xliii -- A Note on Currency, p. xlix -- Acknowledgments, p. li -- Part: Encyclopedic Liberty, p. 1 -- Volume 1 (1751), p. 1 -- The Divine Voice (Aius-Locutius), p. 3 -- Political Arithmetic (Arithmétique Politique), p. 5 -- Political Authority (Autorité Politique), p. 12 -- Volume 2 (1752), p. 21 -- Brownists (Brownistes), p. 23 -- Celibacy (Célibat), p. 26 -- Volume 3 (1753), p. 45 -- Masterpiece (Chef-d'Œuvre), p. 47 -- Citizen (Citoyen), p. 49 -- Trading Company (Compagnie de Commerce), p. 55 -- Competition (Concurrence), p. 65 -- Conquest (Conquête), p. 68 -- Volume 4 (1754), p. 75 -- Public Corruption (Corruption Publique), p. 77 -- Democracy (Démocratie), p. 78 -- Despotism (Despotisme), p. 86 -- Volume 5 (1755), p. 95 -- Natural Right (Droit Naturel), p. 97 -- Natural Law (Droit de la Nature), p. 103 -- Public Law (Droit Public), p. 113 -- Natural Equality (Egalité Naturelle), p. 119 -- Eulogy for President Montesquieu (Eloge de M. le Président de Montesquieu), p. 122 -- Child (Enfant), p. 139 -- Savings (Epargne), p. 145 -- Pin (Epingle), p. 165 -- Slavery (Esclavage), p. 167 -- Volume 6 (1756), p. 185 -- State of Nature (Etat de Nature), p. 187 -- Compound States (Etats Composés), p. 193 -- Volume 7 (1757), p. 197 -- Foundation (Fondation), p. 199 -- Gallantry (Galanterie), p. 209 -- Geneva (Genève), p. 211 -- Government (Gouvernement), p. 227 -- Cereals (Grains), p. 239 -- Volume 8 (1765), p. 257 -- Habeas Corpus, p. 259 -- Man (Homme), p. 261 -- Honor (Honneur), p. 264 Commentary on Filangieri's Work addresses the principal political and social questions that Benjamin Constant, one of the most important liberal thinkers of the nineteenth century, ever discussed. This translation will help give the work its deserved importance in political theory.Commentary is founded on the view that government should maintain a strictly limited role in society; “The functions of government are purely negative. It should repress disorder, eliminate obstacles, in a word, prevent evil from arising. Thereafter one can leave it to individuals to find the good.”Benjamin Constant (1767–1830), born in Switzerland, became one of France's leading writers, as well as a journalist, philosopher, and politician.Alan S. Kahan is Professor of British Civilization at the Université de Versailles/St. Quentin-en-Yvelines in France. The Liberty Fund edition is a modernized translation of Richard Cantillons Essai sur la nature du commerce en gnral (1755) with a new introduction by Antoin E. Murphy. In the Essay, Cantillon outlined an extraordinary model-building approach showing how the economy could be built up, through progressive stages, from a command, barter, closed economy to a market economy, which uses money and is open. Though written in the eighteenth century, the Essay has a considerable resonance for a twenty-firstcentury audience. Antoin E. Murphy is Emeritus Professor of Economics and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin.