Bayle, Pierre

Bayle, Pierre
born Nov. 18, 1647, Carla-le-Comte, France
died Dec. 28, 1706, Rotterdam, Neth.

French philosopher.

Educated at a Jesuit school, he converted to Roman Catholicism but later reverted to his original Calvinist faith. His religious views led to his losing professorships first at Sedan and later at Rotterdam. He was convinced that philosophical reasoning led to universal skepticism, but that nature compelled mankind to adopt beliefs on the basis of blind faith. The bulk of his Historical and Critical Dictionary (1697) consists of quotations, anecdotes, commentaries, and erudite annotations that cleverly undo whatever orthodox Christian beliefs the articles express; and it was condemned by religious authorities. Bayle's oblique method of subversive criticism was later adopted by the contributors to the Encyclopédie of Denis Diderot.

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▪ French philosopher
born Nov. 18, 1647, Carla-le-Comte, Fr.
died Dec. 28, 1706, Rotterdam, Neth.

      philosopher whose Dictionnaire historique et critique (1697; “Historical and Critical Dictionary”) was roundly condemned by the French Reformed Church of Rotterdam and by the French Roman Catholic church because of its numerous annotations deliberately designed to destroy orthodox Christian beliefs.

      Bayle was the son of a Calvinist minister and briefly embraced Roman Catholicism in 1669. He acted as tutor, then taught philosophy (1675–81) at the Protestant Academy of Sedan. After moving to Rotterdam in 1681 to teach philosophy and history, he published (1682) his anonymous reflections on the comet of 1680, deriding the superstition that comets presage catastrophe. He also questioned many Christian traditions, thus arousing the ire of a Calvinist colleague, Pierre Jurieu. Bayle's plea for religious toleration (even for atheists) eventually convinced Jurieu that Bayle was an atheist in disguise. The rift between the two was complete when Bayle advocated a conciliatory attitude toward the anti-Calvinist government of Louis XIV; in 1693 Bayle was deprived of his Rotterdam professorship.

      Thereafter, Bayle devoted himself to his famous Dictionnaire, ostensibly a supplement to Louis Moreri's dictionary but in fact a work of considerable originality. In this encyclopaedic work the articles themselves—on religion, philosophy, and history—are little more than summary expositions. The bulk of the Dictionnaire consists of quotations, anecdotes, commentaries, and erudite annotations that cleverly undo whatever orthodoxy the articles contain. Vehement objections were voiced, particularly to the article “David,” to the bias in favour of Pyrrhonistic (radical) skepticism, atheism, and epicureanism, and to the use of Scripture to introduce indecencies. This oblique method of subversive criticism was adopted by 18th-century encyclopaedists.

      Bayle was convinced that philosophical reasoning led to universal skepticism, but that nature compelled man to accept blind faith, an extremely popular view in the early 18th century. Bayle's last years were troubled by allegations that he was conspiring with France to detach the Dutch from their Anglo-Austrian alliance. On his death, however, foe and friend alike lamented the passing of a great intellectual.

Additional Reading
Jean Delvolve, Religion, critique, et philosophie positive chez Pierre Bayle (1906); Howard Robinson, Bayle the Skeptic (1931).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Bayle,Pierre — Bayle (bāl, bĕl), Pierre. 1647 1706. French philosopher and critic. Considered the progenitor of 18th century rationalism, he compiled the famous Dictionnaire historique et critique (1697) and championed the cause of religious tolerance. * * * …   Universalium

  • BAYLE, Pierre — (1647–1706)    Philosopher. Bayle studied theology and philosophy in Toulouse and Geneva and was appointed professor at the Protestantacademy at Sedan in his native country France. After King Louis XIV closed this academy, Bayle, like so many… …   Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands

  • Bayle, Pierre — (1647 1706)    writer, philosopher    Born a Calvinist at Carla Bayle and educated at the jesuit College in Toulouse, Pierre Bayle converted to Roman Catholicism in 1669, but a year later again adopted Protestantism. In 1675, he became professor… …   France. A reference guide from Renaissance to the Present

  • Bayle, Pierre — (1647–1706) French philosopher and sceptic. Born of Protestant parents in the south west of France, Bayle was educated at Toulouse, became Catholic, lapsed, fled to Geneva, and then became professor in the Protestant academy at Sedan in northern… …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Bayle, Pierre — See Renaissance philosophy outside Italy …   History of philosophy

  • Bayle, Pierre — ► (1647 1706) Filósofo francés. Su Diccionario histórico y crítico (1697) criticaba las ideas absurdas de su tiempo en materias científicas y religiosas. * * * (18 nov. 1647, Carla le Comte, Francia–28 dic. 1706, Rotterdam, Países Bajos).… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • BAYLE, PIERRE —    a native of Languedoc; first Protestant (as the son of a Calvinist minister), then Catholic, then sceptic; Professor of Philosophy at Padua, then at Rotterdam, and finally retired to the Boompjes in the latter city; known chiefly as the author …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • BAYLE, Pierre — (1647 1706)    French RATIONALIST philosopher whose work inspired many ENLIGHTENMENT thinkers …   Concise dictionary of Religion

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