On the Sufficiency of Natural Religion

Denis Diderot

Newcomb Livraria Press

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A new 2023 translation of Denis Diderot's influential 1747 On the Sufficiency of Natural Religion (1746 De la suffisance de la religion naturelle). This edition contains an afterword by the translator on Diderot's philosophy, a timeline of his life and works, and a glossary of the philosophic topics which recur in his works. Diderot's "On the Sufficiency of Natural Religion" explores the role of reason and natural philosophy in understanding the world, arguing against the necessity of revealed religion. It challenges the prevailing religious doctrines of the time and emphasizes the capacity of human reason to comprehend and explain natural phenomena. Diderot's work had a significant impact on the Enlightenment movement and influenced other philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, who praised Diderot's ideas on the limits of natural religion and published a book specifically on this subject- his 1793 Religion within the Limits of Mere Reason.

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A friend of Rousseau, Diderot was an Enlightenment writer and Philosopher. Diderot's other works spanned a wide range of genres, including novels, scientific treatises, and art criticism. His novel "Jacques the Fatalist" explores themes of determinism and free will, while "Rameau's Nephew" is a dialogic exploration of moral relativism and the nature of genius. In his art criticism, notably his writings on the Salons (the official art exhibitions in Paris), Diderot was pioneering, blending detailed descriptions with broader philosophical reflections on art and aesthetics.