French encyclopedist who was thrown into jail for speculating that evolution might take place in the form of natural selection. After being released, Diderot collaborated with d'Alembert in producing a 28 volume encyclopedia which was the first work of that proportion. He believed that all matter has a "principle of life" in it, but that it is latent in everything but animals. He also believed that there is no soul and no absolute good.

d'Alembert