Chapter 9

CONCLUSION.

The variety of Diderot's topics 261

(1) _Thoughts on the Interpretation of Nature_ 262 Maupertuis's _Loi d'Epargne_ 262 General scope of Diderot's aphorisms 263 Prophecy about geometry 264 Utility made to prescribe limits to speculation 267 The other side of this principle 267 On Final Causes 268 Adaptation of the Leibnitzian law of economy 269

(2) _D'Alembert's Dream_ 271 Diderot not the originator of French materialism 272 Materialism of the three dialogues 273 Mdlle. Lespinasse's moral objections 274

(3) _Plan of a University for Russia_ 275 Religious instruction 276 Latin and Greek 277 Letter to the Countess of Forbach 278

(4) _Conversation with the Maréchale de ----_ 278 Parable of the young Mexican 279

(5) _Letters to Falconet_ 281 Diderot defends the feeling for posterity 283

APPENDIX.

_Rameau's Nephew: a Translation_ 285

DIDEROT.