Early Deism in France

The symbiosis between particles physics and cosmology has virtually become a conjugal relationship. Hence the 9th biennial Course of the International School of Cosmic-Ray Astrophysics was designed to bridge these formerly disparate disciplines. This NATO Advanced Study Institute took place at the Ettore Majorana Centre in Erice, Italy, June 20-30, 1992. Seventy participants from 17 countries participated in lively interactions and enjoyed the stimulating lectures that form the basis for this volume. The book includes current advances in both astrophysics (cosmic gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays) and cosmology (an introduction to inflation in big-bang theory, the age of the universe, nucleosynthesis in the early universe). It is suitable for reading and study by all interested physical scientists, especially those having a limited specialized background in astrophysics and cosmology.

I. Prehistory, from 1564 to about 1670. - 1. Introductory; Pierre Viret s `déistes at Lyon, and two characters in Bodin. - 2. The 1620s: Mersenne and the `poème des déistes . - 3. The absence of deistic ideas from 1630 to 1670. - II. The later seventeenth century: precursors and definitions, from Saint-Evremond to Bayle. - 4. Saint-Evremond and the decline of fideism. - 5. The Utopian religions of Foigny and Veiras. - 6. Definitions and accusations, 1670 1700; `deism as a term of opprobrium. - 7. The Turkish Spy. - III. The first French deists, 1700 1715. - 8. Gilbert s Calejava: rational deism with Protestant overtones. - 9. Lahontan and Gueudeville: natural religion from Canada. - 10. The anti-Christian deism of the Militaire philosophe. - 11. The Examen de la religion and other clandestine works. - 12. Tyssot de Patot: types of deism and religious criticism. - IV. Deistic ideas in the early works of Montesquieu and Voltaire. - 13. Montesquieu: Lettres persanes. - 14. Voltaire: Lettres philosophiques. - 15. Conclusions. - Biography. - Literary allusions. - Religious attitudes. - Bibliography: 1. Manuscripts and published works discussed in the text as examples or precursors of deism. - 2. Editions, used for reference, of works by major authors. - 3. Secondary authorities, cited in the notes or of general interest for the subject; excluding works cited in the Appendix.