, an eminent French professor of philosophy, was born at Poilly,
, an eminent French professor
of philosophy, was born at Poilly, a village in the diocese
of Sens, in the year 1651, and studied at the university of
Paris, where he distinguished himself by his talents and
great diligence, and in 1673 he was admitted to the degree of M. A. In the year 1677 he was appointed professor of philosophy in his own college, whither his reputation
soon attracted a multitude of students and at the opening
of the “College des Quatre Nations,' 7 he was appointed to
fill the philosophical chair in that seminary. Mr. Pourchot soon became dissatisfied with the Aristotelian philosophy, and embraced the principles of Des Cartes, applying
mathematical principles and reasonings to the discovery of
physical and moral truths. He now drew up a system of
philosophy, which he published under the title of
” Institutiones Philosophies,“which was very generally applauded, and met with an astonishing sale. His reputation as a philosopher, at this time, stood so high, that his
lectures were always attended by a numerous concourse of
students. His acquaintance was eagerly courted by the
most celebrated literary characters of his time Racine,
Despreaux, Mabillon, Dupin, Baillet, Montfaucon, and
Santeul, were his intimate associates. He was honoured
with the esteem of M. Bossuet and M. de Fenelon. The
latter would have procured for him the appointment of
tutor to the younger branches of the royal family, but he
preferred to employ his talents in the service of the university; and was seven times chosen to fill the post of rector
of that body, and was syndic for the long space of forty
years. At a very advanced age he began to apply himself to the study of the Hebrew language, with a degree
of ardour which soon enabled him to deliver a course of
lectures upon it at the college of St. Barbe. In the midst
of his numerous engagements, he found leisure to improve
his
” Philosophical Institutions,“of which he was preparing the fourth edition for the press, when he lost his eyesight. He died at Paris in 1734, in the 83d year of his
age. Besides his
” Institutions,“he was author of numerous
” Discourses,“which were given to the public in
the
” Acts of the University,“and various
” Memoirs.“He assisted the learned Masclef in greatly improving the
second edition of his
” Grammatica Hebraica," and he
aided him in drawing up the Chaldee, Syriac, and Samaritan grammars, which are combined in that edition.