Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Revision as of 09:57, 17 February 2010 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 12:13, 31 March 2010 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
By addressing his polemical writings to a general readership he helped to spread the ideas of the [[Enlightenment]] more widely. He wrote about philosophy, history and religion, and simplified the innovative empirical arguments of philosophers such as [[Voltaire]], [[Pierre Bayle]] and [[Bernard de Fontenelle]]. | By addressing his polemical writings to a general readership he helped to spread the ideas of the [[Enlightenment]] more widely. He wrote about philosophy, history and religion, and simplified the innovative empirical arguments of philosophers such as [[Voltaire]], [[Pierre Bayle]] and [[Bernard de Fontenelle]]. | ||
- | He entered the army at the age of fifteen, and, after a [[dissipated]] and [[adventurous]] youth, was [[disinherited]] by his father. He then settled for a time in [[Amsterdam]], where he wrote some historical compilations and began his more famous ''Lettres juives'' (The Hague, 6 vols, 1738-1742), ''[[Lettres chinoises]]'' (The Hague, 6 vols, 1739-1472), and ''Lettres cabalistiques'' (2nd ed., 7 vols, 1769); also the ''[[Mémoires secrets de la république des lettres]]'' (7 vols, 1743-1478), afterwards revised and augmented as ''[[Histoire de l'esprit humain]]'' (Berlin, 14 vols, 1765-1768). | + | He entered the army at the age of fifteen, and, after a [[dissipated]] and [[adventurous]] youth, was [[disinherited]] by his father. He then settled for a time in [[Amsterdam]], where he wrote some historical compilations and began his more famous ''[[Lettres juives]]'' (The Hague, 6 vols, 1738-1742), ''[[Lettres chinoises]]'' (The Hague, 6 vols, 1739-1472), and ''Lettres cabalistiques'' (2nd ed., 7 vols, 1769); also the ''[[Mémoires secrets de la république des lettres]]'' (7 vols, 1743-1478), afterwards revised and augmented as ''[[Histoire de l'esprit humain]]'' (Berlin, 14 vols, 1765-1768). |
He was invited by Prince Frederick (afterwards [[Frederick the Great]]) to [[Potsdam]], and received high honours at court. He was appointed to "Kammerherr" and Director of the Academy. However, Frederick was bitterly offended by his marrying a [[Berlin]] actress, Mlle Cochois. Argens returned to France in [[1769]], and died near Toulon on the 11th of January 1771. | He was invited by Prince Frederick (afterwards [[Frederick the Great]]) to [[Potsdam]], and received high honours at court. He was appointed to "Kammerherr" and Director of the Academy. However, Frederick was bitterly offended by his marrying a [[Berlin]] actress, Mlle Cochois. Argens returned to France in [[1769]], and died near Toulon on the 11th of January 1771. |
Revision as of 12:13, 31 March 2010
Related e |
Featured: |
Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens (June 24, 1704, Aix-en-Provence - January 11, 1771, Toulon) was a French philosopher and writer, presumed author of Thérèse Philosophe.
By addressing his polemical writings to a general readership he helped to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment more widely. He wrote about philosophy, history and religion, and simplified the innovative empirical arguments of philosophers such as Voltaire, Pierre Bayle and Bernard de Fontenelle.
He entered the army at the age of fifteen, and, after a dissipated and adventurous youth, was disinherited by his father. He then settled for a time in Amsterdam, where he wrote some historical compilations and began his more famous Lettres juives (The Hague, 6 vols, 1738-1742), Lettres chinoises (The Hague, 6 vols, 1739-1472), and Lettres cabalistiques (2nd ed., 7 vols, 1769); also the Mémoires secrets de la république des lettres (7 vols, 1743-1478), afterwards revised and augmented as Histoire de l'esprit humain (Berlin, 14 vols, 1765-1768).
He was invited by Prince Frederick (afterwards Frederick the Great) to Potsdam, and received high honours at court. He was appointed to "Kammerherr" and Director of the Academy. However, Frederick was bitterly offended by his marrying a Berlin actress, Mlle Cochois. Argens returned to France in 1769, and died near Toulon on the 11th of January 1771.