Though not a scientist himself, d'Holbach was scientifically literate and he tried to develop his philosophy in accordance with the known facts of nature and the scientific knowledge of the day, citing, for example, the experiments of John Needham as proof that life could develop autonomously without the intervention of a deity.
Iako po struci nije znanstvenik, d'Holbach je bio upućen u materiju te je svoju filozofiju pokušao razviti u skladu s poznatim činjenicama o prirodi te znanstvenim spoznajama toga vremena, citirajući na primjer, eksperimente Johna Needhama kao dokaze da se život mogao razviti neovisno od intervencije božanstva.