Le déisme au pilori Des stratégies de réfutation chez quelques apologistes de la seconde moitié du xviii^e siècle

Deist thought was opposed to religious orthodoxy not only on the level of ideas but also on that of their expression and diffusion. The apologists assumed their task and, from 1750 onwards, renewed their defensive tactics by adopting the argumentative and rhetorical strategies of the philosophes : refutations were then of better literary quality ; they are adapted to contemporary tone and taste in order to better influence public opinion.