French Enlightenment Materialist Circle: Diderot, Holbach, and the Encyclopédie Debates (1730–1789)

1. Diderot issues materialist *Pensées philosophiques*

   Jan 1, 1746Labels: Denis Diderot, Pens es

   • SEP Diderot

2. Diderot and d’Alembert join the Encyclopédie project

   Jan 1, 1747Labels: Denis Diderot, Jean le

   • Britannica

3. Diderot publishes *Lettre sur les aveugles*

   Jun 1, 1749Labels: Denis Diderot, Lettre sur

   • FR Wiki
   • SEP Diderot

4. Diderot imprisoned at Vincennes after the essay’s scandal

   Jul 24, 1749Labels: Denis Diderot, Vincennes Prison

   • FR Wiki

5. Encyclopédie Volume I released with d’Alembert’s introduction

   Jun 1, 1751Labels: Discours pr, Encyclop die

   • Britannica
   • ARTFL

6. French Council of State suppresses Encyclopédie volumes

   Jan 1, 1752Labels: French Council, Encyclop die

   • Britannica
   • Encyclop die Wiki

7. Helvétius publishes *De l’Esprit*, provoking major backlash

   Jan 1, 1758Labels: Claude Adrien, De l'Esprit

   • Clavreuil
   • Britannica

8. Privilege revoked; Encyclopédie forced into semi-clandestine production

   Mar 7, 1759Labels: Encyclop die, privilege revoked

   • Britannica
   • Wikisource 1911

9. Holbach’s Paris salon becomes a hub for radical materialists

   Jan 1, 1760Labels: Baron d'Holbach, Paris salon

   • Coterie Wiki
   • Britannica

10. Holbach’s anti-Christian critiques circulate under pseudonyms

    Jan 1, 1768Labels: Baron d'Holbach, pseudonymous publications

    • Open Library
    • WorldCat

11. Diderot writes *Le Rêve de d’Alembert* to argue “living matter”

    Jan 1, 1769Labels: Denis Diderot, Le R

    • BNF
    • SEP Diderot

12. Holbach publishes *Système de la nature* under Mirabaud’s name

    Jan 1, 1770Labels: Baron d'Holbach, Syst me

    • Gutenberg
    • System Wiki

13. Encyclopédie plates complete, extending its practical influence

    Jan 1, 1772Labels: Encyclop die, industrial arts

    • Britannica

14. Death of Holbach closes a major organizing center

    Jan 21, 1789Labels: Baron d'Holbach, death 1789

    • Holbach Wiki
    • Coterie Wiki