Denis Diderot was a man with far more wisdom than his years allotted him; the creator of the encyclopedia, “encyclopedie”, he thought of the world as a whole rather than a collection of disagreeing societies. Reason and rationalism were his motivation to change the world in which he lived. As a child born in Langres, France, he was raised with Christian values and educated by the Jesuits but soon became fascinated with a variety of subjects outside of his religion. In 1729, while studying in Paris, he discovered a world unbeknown to him, a world filled with knowledge and many unanswered questions. Many historians claim him to be the “brightest light of the French Revolution”, leading his country into a new age. Both state and church rejected most of his theories because he dared to threaten the power of the land at the time. The disrespect of tradition and authority expressed in his findings infuriated rulers and elders alike, he was, ”the first great writer who belonged wholly and undividedly to modern democratic society.” Prior to his death in 1784 he wrote thousands of articles that encouraged the study of science and questioned the legitimacy of government. Poetic in nearly everything he addressed, Diderot in fact played a huge role in forcing society into the modern world we see it as today.
I certainly agree Denis Diderot was a man with great wisdom, although I disagree with the statement that he was the creator of the encylopedia. Sir Walter Raleigh started work on the first encylopedia. Deiderot was asked to translate the Cyclopedia by Ephraim Chambers. He expounded on this notion. Deiderot had gathered a team of the leading thinkers of his time to create the Encylopedie 0f which he was the chief editor and co-founder. I do agree he was born in Langres France, in eastern Langres to be more precise. Diederot ended his life in France aswell. I also agree that he was raised with Christian values. His own sister was a nun. Diederot himself once aspired to go into the clergy, then changed his mind and wanted to go into law, finally ending up a writer. His writtings shaped many of the thoughts of his readers that an overhaul was needed in their society. Theis helped to fuel the start of the French Revolution. That is why some consider him to be the "brigtest light of the French Revolution".
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