''The Skeptic's Walk'' (French: ''La Promenade du sceptique'') is a book by

Denis Diderot Denis Diderot (; ; 5 October 171331 July 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a prominent figure during th ...

, completed in 1747. It was first published in 1830. The book is separated into two parts: the first being a critique of religion, and the second a philosophical

dialogue Dialogue (sometimes spelled dialog in American and British English spelling differences, American English) is a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people, and a literature, literary and theatrical form that depicts suc ...

Production

The book was reported to Paris police sometime between 1746 and 1747, at which time Diderot was already under police surveillance. When the book was completed in 1747, Diderot was unable to find a publisher, and the sole copy of the book remained at his home until it was confiscated during a police search in 1752. The book was reportedly lost in police custody, and remained unheard of until it was put up for auction by a Paris bookseller in 1800. The book's surfacing led to a legal dispute between Diderot's daughter and the bookseller over rightful ownership. The dispute caused the book to be confiscated by police for a second time. It remained unpublished until 1830.Diderot had died in 1784, and the publication was posthumous.

Content

The book is said to reveal the intellectual development of Diderot during the time it was written, and is considered to be the turning point in Diderot's transition to

atheism Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the Existence of God, existence of Deity, deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the ...

. The book questions the integrity of both the

Bible The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writt ...

and the Abrahamic conception of God. Part of the book presents a fictional story, set shortly after the

Battle of Fontenoy The Battle of Fontenoy took place on 11 May 1745 during the War of the Austrian Succession, near Tournai, then in the Austrian Netherlands, now Belgium. A French army of 50,000 under Maurice, comte de Saxe, Marshal Saxe defeated a Pragmatic Ar ...

, involving a small group of philosophers. Themes include choosing between carnal pleasures and 'higher' morals. The book ends with the narrator of the story meeting "one of those blondes whom a philosopher ought to avoid", who convinces him that it is better to embrace happiness on earth than to wait for it in heaven. Philosophical debate in the book is said to show Diderot's distinct withdrawal from the

Age of Enlightenment The Age of Enlightenment (also the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment) was a Europe, European Intellect, intellectual and Philosophy, philosophical movement active from the late 17th to early 19th century. Chiefly valuing knowledge gained th ...

. The book has been described as being highly satirical, and whilst it mainly criticises the Christian churches, it has also been called Diderot's "most unkind treatment of

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

and the ancient Jews." Because of the blasphemy laws at the time, if the book had been published while he was still alive, Diderot most likely would have been imprisoned or exiled from Paris.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Skeptic's Walk. The 1747 non-fiction books 1830 non-fiction books Works by Denis Diderot Atheism in France Books critical of religion Satirical books Books published posthumously Dialogues