a sect of French philosophers, who obtained this name in consequence of directing their attention and researches to objects of political economy, and in particular to the improvement of the departments of finance. The views of those philosophers, among whom are reckoned the celebrated names of Voltaire, d'Alembert, Diderot, and Condorcet, have been variably represented; by some as directly hostile to all regular government, and by others as unfriendly to religion.