Preliminary Discourse to the Encyclopedia of Diderot: The Library of Liberal Arts

The Preliminary Discourse to the Encyclopedia of Diderot is a book written by Jean Le Rond d'Alembert, a French mathematician, philosopher, and writer. It is a critical introduction to the Encyclopedia, a major work of the Enlightenment period that aimed to collect and disseminate knowledge in all areas of human endeavor.In this book, d'Alembert discusses the history of knowledge and the role of the Encyclopedia in advancing human understanding. He argues that the accumulation of knowledge is a gradual process that requires the collaboration of many people from different fields of study. He also emphasizes the importance of reason and critical thinking in the pursuit of knowledge.The book is considered a seminal work in the history of ideas and a key text in the Enlightenment. It provides insight into the intellectual and cultural context of the time and sheds light on the development of modern science, philosophy, and politics. It is a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in the history of ideas, the Enlightenment, and the development of modern thought.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.