The Skeptic's Walk

by Denis Diderot, Kirk Watson (Translator)

This is what the Divine Comedy or Pilgrim's Progress would look like if an Enlightenment radical wrote them. Finding himself on a quest through the forest of life towards the general rendez-vous at the end, our hero journeys first on the path of religion and faith, then the path of the philosophers where debate and ideas reign, and finally the path of worldly pursuits and pleasure. Along the way he dodges inquisitors, raging fanatics, insane philosophers, faithless lovers, and scheming social climbers.

Genres: Philosophy

133 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1830

About the author

Work on the Encyclopédie (1751-1772), supreme accomplishment of French philosopher and writer Denis Diderot, epitomized the spirit of thought of Enlightenment; he also wrote novels, plays, critical essays, and brilliant letters to a wide circle of friends and colleagues.

Jean le Rond d'Alembert contributed.

This artistic prominent persona served as best known co-founder, chief editor, and contributor.

He also contributed notably to literature with Jacques le fataliste et son maître (Jacques the Fatalist and his Master), which emulated Laurence Sterne in challenging conventions regarding structure and content, while also examining ideas about free will. Diderot also authored of the known dialogue, Le Neveu de Rameau (Rameau's Nephew), basis of many articles and sermons about consumer desire. His articles included many topics.

Diderot speculated on free will, held a completely materialistic view of the universe, and suggested that heredity determines all human behavior. He therefore warned his fellows against an overemphasis on mathematics and against the blind optimism that sees in the growth of physical knowledge an automatic social and human progress. He rejected the idea of progress. His opinion doomed the aim of progressing through technology to fail. He founded on experiment and the study of probabilities. He wrote several articles and supplements concerning gambling, mortality rates, and inoculation against smallpox. He discreetly but firmly refuted technical errors and personal positions of d'Alembert on probability.

Reviews

[Jerry Wall · Rating 1 out of 5]

A tale of paths, religious, philosophical, and earthiness. Explores and points out advantages and disadvantages of each. A trifle dated, I would say, though a fairly simplistic and basic sort of
judgment(s).
from 1747
. . . you're not reaching out to people who know nothing, but to people who wish to know nothing. p. 10
Voltaire talking about tearing away the blindfold of prejudice. fn page 58 !!!!!!
[use of prayer] But your prince is supremely happy. If he is sufficient unto himself, as you yourself say, then what good are your vows, your prayers, and your contortions? He either already knows what you desire, or he is completely ignorant of it; if he knows it, he is determined to give it to you, or to withhold it. Your pleading will not rip any gifts from his unwilling hands, and your cries will not hasten them along. p. 74

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Diderot, but The Skeptic's Walk did not live up to my expectations. Honestly, as a critique of religion, philosophy and hedonism the book falls far short of the mark. For a much funnier, enjoyable and cogent skeptic's journey, read Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. The same subject matter; but Swift's delivery is far and away a superior work.