What political changes did Jean Le Rond dâAlembert and the Philosophes support?
Jean Le Rond dâAlembert and the philosophes were united by a conviction in the supremacy and efficacy of human reason, which led them to advocate for social, economic, and political reforms to address the inadequacies of the absolute monarchy and traditional institutions.12
Regarding dâAlembert specifically, his political and social influence was channeled through his work with the French Academy and his contributions to the EncyclopĂ©die. While he was a skeptic who supported the philosophes' hostility toward the political and social power of the church, he remained cautious in his public approach. However, he took a firm stance against the Jesuits, arguing that their inordinate love of power led to their own destruction. He also championed the independence of writers, urging aristocratic patrons to respect their talents and liberty.3
More broadly, the philosophes collectively undermined belief in the ancien régime by criticizing religious and political orthodoxy, promoting the rational analysis of institutions, and advocating for free-market economics and the removal of artificial economic obstacles.24