He sketches the early lives of Diderot, Holbach, Rousseau and other players in the drama, and describes the philosophy they hammered out.

ECONOMIST: Atheism and the Enlightenment

Even today, and even in secular western Europe, the bald and confident atheism and materialism of Diderot and Holbach seems mildly shocking.

ECONOMIST: Atheism and the Enlightenment

Baron d'Holbach published most of his works under pseudonyms, which helped to keep him safe but also condemned him to centuries of philosophical obscurity (except in the officially godless Soviet Union).

ECONOMIST: Atheism and the Enlightenment: In the name of godlessness | The

It is a tragedy of history, the author concludes, that Voltaire and Rousseau won the battle of ideas, whereas Diderot was reduced to the rank of editor of the encyclopedia, and Holbach was forgotten utterly.

ECONOMIST: Atheism and the Enlightenment