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Work #539 · Late

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

Pierre Bayle
1697 (2nd expanded edn 1702) · French
Encyclopedic dictionary · French Huguenot Enlightenment scepticism

Bayle's 1697 foundational sceptical-critical reference work — major proto-Enlightenment text

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique) (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

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Time

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

The historical time of received traditions.

✦

Space

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

The encyclopedic space of biographical entries.

◉

Matter

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

The embodied historical actors.

◎

Observer

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

Bayle as sceptical-critical encyclopedist.

⚡

Energy

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

Energies of sceptical-critical method.

⧉

Information

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

Monumental sceptical-critical reference framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Historical and Critical Dictionary (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique)

Bayle's scepticism deeply influenced Voltaire, Hume, and Diderot — major Enlightenment catalyst.