Criminal Law Library Blog
INTRODUCTION.
Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749) was a pioneering scientist, philosopher, and translator whose intellect shone brightly in the Age of Enlightenment. Best known for her French translation and commentary on Newton’s Principia Mathematica, still the standard version today, she brought clarity and depth to Newtonian physics while offering original insights into energy and motion.
Living and working alongside Voltaire at Cirey, she helped shape the intellectual life of her time, challenging assumptions in science, philosophy, ethics, and society. Although Émilie du Châtelet wasn’t a legal scholar or actively involved in the legal profession, her writings and critiques demonstrate awareness of the role of laws and social structures in shaping individuals’ lives, particularly for women, and highlight her philosophical arguments for justice, equality, and the importance of intellectual freedom for all.