One of the most significant works of the Enlightenment period, the Encyclopédie is a monumental reference work that seeks to collect and organize all of humanity's knowledge in a systematic, accessible way. Edited by Denis Diderot and containing contributions from some of the most prominent intellectual figures of the day, this ambitious project represents a hallmark of human achievement and a testament to the power of collaborative endeavor.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.