Bayle on Gassendi: The History and Theory of Atomism

Abstract

In this article, I explore the role that Gassendi’s philosophy plays in Pierre Bayle’s work. Bayle often quotes Gassendi, as much in the Œuvres diverses as in the Dictionnaire. Despite their stylistic differences, the two authors share a sceptical stance that is supported by considerable erudition. First, I demonstrate that Gassendi is an important source of historical information and philological observations. Second, I discuss the thesis of ensouled atoms that Bayle formulates on several occasions in his articles on ancient atomism and argue that the hypothesis constitutes a polemical stance against modern atomism. In particular, it provides grounds for a critique of the definition of the weight of atoms in the Syntagma. I suggest that according to Bayle, the notion of materia actuosa must be refuted on the grounds that it may render the generation of sentient life inconceivable.