Pancoucke (Charles Joseph), eminent French publisher, b. Lille, 26 Nov. 1736. He settled at Paris and became acquainted with d’Alembert, Garat, etc., and was a correspondent of Rousseau, Buffon and Voltaire, whose works he brought out. He translated Lucretius, 1768, brought out the Mercure de France, projected in 1781 the important Encyclopédie Méthodique, of which there are 166 vols., and founded the Moniteur, 1789. Died at Paris, 19 Dec. 1798.
Pantano (Eduardo), Italian author of a little book on the Sicilian Vespers and the Commune, Catania, 1882.
Papillon (J. Henri Fernand), French philosophic writer, b. Belfort, 5 June, 1847. He wrote an Introduction to Chemical Philosophy, ’65; contributed to the Revue de Philosophie Positive and the Revue des Deux Mondes. His principal work is entitled Nature and Life, ’73. Died at Paris 31 Dec. 1873.
Paquet (Henri Remi René), French writer, b. Charleville, 29 Sep. 1845. After studying under the Jesuits he went to Paris, where he became an advocate, but devoted his main attention to literature. Under the anagram of “Nérée Quépat” he has published La Lorgnette Philosophique, ’72, a dictionary of the great and little philosophers of our time, a study of La Mettrie entitled Materialist Philosophy in the Eighteenth Century and other works.
Pare (William), Owenite Social reformer, b. Birmingham, 11 Aug. 1805. Wrote an abridgment of Thompson’s Distribution of Wealth, also works on Capital and Labor ’54, Co-operative Agriculture, at Rahaline, ’70, etc. He compiled vol. 1 of the Biography of Robert Owen. Died at Croydon, 18 June, 1873.
Parfait (Noel), French writer and politician, b. Chartres, 30 Nov. 1814. Took part in the revolution of ’30, and wrote many radical brochures. After the coup d’état he took refuge in Belgium. In ’71 was elected deputy and sat on the extreme left.
Parfait (Paul), son of the [foregoing], b. Paris, 1841. Author of L’Arsenal de la Dévotion, ’76, Notes to serve for a history of superstition, and a supplement Le Dossier des Pélerinages, ’77, and other pieces. Died 1881.
Parisot (Jean Patrocle), a Frenchman who wrote La Foy devoilée par la raison, 1681 [Faith Unveiled by Reason], a work whose title seems to have occasioned its suppression.
Parker (Theodore), American rationalist, b. Lexington, Mass., 24 Aug. 1810. From his father—a Unitarian—he inherited independence of mind, courage, and love of speculation. Brought up in poverty he studied hard, and acquired a University education while laboring on the farm. In March, ’31, he became an assistant teacher at Boston. In June, ’37, he was ordained Unitarian minister. Parker gradually became known as an iconoclast, and study of the German critics made him a complete rationalist, so that even the Unitarian body rejected him. A society was established to give him a hearing in Boston, and soon his fame was established. His Discourse on Matters Pertaining to Religion, ’47, exhibited his fundamental views. He translated and enlarged De Wette’s Critical Introduction to the Old Testament. A fearless opponent of the Fugitive Slave Law, he sheltered slaves in his own house. Early in ’59 failing health compelled him to relinquish his duties. Died at Florence, 10 May, 1860. He bequeathed his library of 13,000 volumes to the Boston Public Library.
Parmenides, a Greek philosopher, b. Elea, Italy, 518 B.C. Is said to have been a disciple of Xenophanes. He developed his philosophy about 470 B.C. in a didactic poem On Nature, fragments of which are preserved by Sextus Empiricus. He held to Reason as our guide, and considered nature eternal.