Alembert, Jean Le Rond d'

About the author

Jean Le Rond d’Alembert (1717–1783) was a French mathematician, philosopher, and co-editor of the monumental Encyclopédie—a cornerstone of the Enlightenment. Born out of wedlock and raised in Paris, he excelled in mathematics from a young age, contributing to fields such as differential equations and fluid mechanics. Alongside Denis Diderot, d’Alembert envisioned the Encyclopédie not only as a compendium of human knowledge but also as a vehicle to advance critical thinking and skepticism of traditional authority. His works exemplify the intellectual vigor and curiosity that defined Enlightenment thought, melding rigorous scientific inquiry with the era’s enthusiasm for reason and progress. This multifaceted legacy endures in both the theoretical underpinnings of modern science and the Enlightenment’s broader cultural shift toward rational discourse.