Titre du document / Document title

Un philosophe au purgatoire des Lumières : Démocrite = Democritus, a philosopher in enlightenment purgatory

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

RICHARDOT Anne ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Université de Montréal, CANADA

Résumé / Abstract

The legend of Democritus was profoundly re-evaluated in the 18th Century, for Enlightenment thinkers, who aimed at socialising and humanising laughter, rejected the model of the mocking philosopher, thus breaking with a long tradition. This type of laughter was now seen more as a sign of cruelty and proof of intellectual imposture and was variously condemned : Fénélon, Vauvenargues, Diderot or Lavater did so indignantly, while dramatists (Marivaux or Regnard) exploited it to make it ridiculous and deserving comic sanction. Illustrations also show us the evolution of this character, as engravings, hesitating between depreciative caricature and a mirthless rehabilitation, totally remodelled the image of the famous laughing Greek philosopher. This persistent refusal of Democritus's philosophical teaching is probably one of the great paradoxes of this light-hearted and mocking century.

Revue / Journal Title

Dix-huitième siècle   ISSN 0070-6760 

Source / Source

2000, n^o 32 (755 p.)  (bibl.: ref. et notes), pp. 197-212, [Note(s) : 749 [17 p.]]

Langue / Language

Français

Editeur / Publisher

Presses universitaires de France, Paris, FRANCE  (1969) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

France ; Century 18 ; Laughter ; Democritus ; Enlightenment ; Philosopher ; Rationalism ; Criticism ; Humanism ; Heraclitus ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

France ; Siècle 18 ; Rire ; Démocrite ; Siècle des Lumières ; Philosophe ; Rationalisme ; Critique ; Humanisme ; Héraclite ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 15865, 35400009435513.0120