Condillac e i suoi recensori (Journal de Trevoux, Journal des Sçavans)

Abstract

In the 17th century the dissemination of philosophical ideas relied also on the critical summaries and reviews published by the journals. The focus of this paper is the reactions of two of these journals – the Journal de Trévoux, edited by the Jesuits of the Parisian Collège Louis Le Grand, and the Journal des Sçavans – to Condillac’s works (namely his Essai sur l’origine des connoissances humaines, Traité des systèmes, Traité des sensations, Traité des animaux, as far as the Journal de Trévoux is concerned, and the Essai and Traité des sensations in the Journal des Sçavans). The Jesuit journal, under the direction of pére Berthier – probably himself the author of the reviews – had a precise plan in presenting Condillac’s philosophy as an anti-empiricist and anti-materialist doctrine, sometime giving a misrepresentation of the author’s thought, which is also criticized on some points. The decision of the Journal de Trévoux to review the main works of Condillac is anyway worthy of attention, and probably betrays a certain interest toward the more up to date philosophical enquiry. The Journal des Sçavans was on the other hand more faithful in presenting Condillac’s works.