[Footnote: For his life and works the best book is J.Drouet's monograph, L'Abbe de Saint-Pierre: l'homme et l'oeuvre (1912), but on some points Goumy's older study (1859) is still worth consulting.

I have used the edition of his works in 12 volumes published during his lifetime at Rotterdam, 1733-37.] 1.
He was brought up on Cartesian principles, and he idealised Descartes somewhat as Lucretius idealised Epicurus.

But he had no aptitude for philosophy, and he prized physical science only as far as it directly administered to the happiness of men.

He was a natural utilitarian, and perhaps no one was ever more consistent in making utility the criterion of all actions and theories.

Applying this standard he obliterated from the roll of great men most of those whom common opinion places among the greatest.