VACHEROT, vash'r5', ETIENNE (1809-97). A French philosopher, born at Langres :Ind edu cated in Paris, where, after having for several years taught at Chalons-stir-Marne, he Nvas ap pointed, in 1837. superintendent and maitre des conft:;renee at the normal school by Victor Cousin, his former teacher, whom he succeeded as pro fessor of philosophy at the Sorbonne in 1839. Through his liberal views and (specially by the exposition of his philosophical doctrines in the Ifistoirc critique de 1Yeole d',11e.raadeie (I 8-16 51), lie aroused the most violent opposition of the clergy, and in consemienee snspendcd his position of superintendent and. after denying allegiance to the Empire in 1852. was deprived of his professorate. Judiciary pro ceedings and imprisonment resulted filen the publication of La deuormat le (1859). As mayor of the fifth arrondissement of Paris he rendered important services during the siege and the Cernmune and in 1871 was Ileetell to t he National Assembly, where he at first Silted with the Liberals, but afterwards joined the Centre and even lent his support to the Broglie :Ministry in its ultramontane aspirations. Although with
drawing from politieal life after the dissolution of the National :\ssenthly, he continued to voice his opinions in his centributions to the 111•1'1( des Deux .11 ondrp, the severe anti-republican tenor of which created a sensation. Likewise lie accentuated his numarehical tendencies ill the eolintins of the Pigare and the Soleil. Besides his principal work. I,a melaphysique et la science (2d ed. 1S63), containing the development of his philosophical system, he wrote Essais de philosophic critique (1864), La religion (1868), La science ct la conscience (1870), La politiquc artericarc de la. republique (1881), Lc nouveau spiritualisnie (1884), La democratic liberate (1892), and others. For his biography consult 011e-Laprune (Paris, ]S9S).