LA « SAGESSE » DE LA FOLIE OU L’ART D’ÊTRE GUEUX DANS LE NEVEU DE RAMEAU
The 'Wisdom' of Madness or the Art of Being a Beggar in Rameau’s Nephew

Summary/Abstract: If one says, as commonly believed, that a fool is not a wise, Erasmus might disagree because, for him, everyone is foolish. However, the Dutch philosopher only created a goddess of folly. It is in Rameau’s Nephew by Diderot that one finds a fool who represents the entire human race in its folly. We are all “foolish” because we cannot be ourselves due to the general will of society. In such a situation, Rameau the Fool’s artistry teaches us his wisdom of living and enjoying an imperfect happiness.

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