Discours préliminaire

essay by d’Alembert

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June 25, 2026

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The Discours préliminaire is the introductory essay to the French Encyclopédie, a monumental work of the Enlightenment. Written primarily by Jean d'Alembert, it outlines the project's ambitious goal: to compile and disseminate knowledge across sciences, arts, and trades. The essay traces the development of human understanding, emphasizing reason and secular thought. It highlights the interconnectedness of various fields of knowledge and presents a unified view of contemporary learning. The Discours also serves as a defense of the Encyclopédie's liberal and progressive stance, which faced significant opposition from conservative elements in 18th-century France.12

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Denis Diderot
The Encyclopédie
…d’Alembert expanded into the momentous Discours préliminaire (1751). The history of the Encyclopédie, from the publication of the first volume in 1751 to the distribution of the final volumes of plates in 1772, was checkered, but ultimate success was never in doubt. Diderot was undaunted by the government’s censorship of…
Read More
…d’Alembert expanded into the momentous Discours préliminaire (1751). The history of the Encyclopédie, from the publication of the first volume in 1751 to the distribution of the final volumes of plates in 1772, was checkered, but ultimate success was never in doubt. Diderot was undaunted by the government’s censorship of…
Read More