Difference between revisions of "Pierre Charron"

<p> a French writer, was born at [[Paris]] in 1541. At first he studied law at [[Orleans]] and Bourges, and practiced several years in his profession, but afterwards betook himself to the study of theology, and soon became a famous pulpit orator. He preached several years in the south of France, and became chaplain to queen Marguerite. When forty-seven years old he returned to Paris, with the intention of joining a monastic order. Being refused, on account of his advanced age, he went again to the south. At [[Bordeaux]] he became acquainted with Montaigne, who exercised a great influence upon-him. In 1594 he published his Des Trois Verites (Bordeaux), and the bishop of [[Cahors]] appointed him vicar-general. The year following he represented his diocese at the meeting of the French clergy, and was elected its clerk. He died suddenly at Paris, Nov. 16,1603. Of his many writings, besides the above, we mention a collection of sixteen Discours Chretiens (ibid. 1600):-Traite de la Sagesse (ibid. 1601 a. o.). The principles laid down in this last work found some severe opponents, especially in the [[Jesuit]] Garasse, who. accused Charron of atheism. In the second edition, which appeared in 1604, some of the obnoxious passages were left out; but in 1607 a new edition of the correct text was published, which became the basis for later editions as published by [[Elzevir]] in 1646 and [[Didot]] in 1789. The best and most complete edition is the one published by Renouard (Dijon, 1801, 4 vols.). See Schmidt, in Herzog's Real- Encyklop. s.v.; Bayle, Dictionnaire Historique et Critique, s.v.; Brucker, Historia Philosophies, iv, 512; Arboux, in Lichtenberger's Encyclop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v. (B. P.) </p>

<p> A French moralist and theologian, as well as pulpit orator, born in Paris; author of "Les Trois Vérités," the unity of God, [[Christianity]] the sole religion, and Catholicism the only Christianity; and of a sceptical treatise "De la Sagesse"; a friend and disciple of Montaigne, but bolder as more dogmatic, with less <i> bonhommie </i> and originality, and much of a cynic withal (1541-1603). </p>