Double lecture, double écriture: les Principes de politique des souverains de Diderot

Abstract

Catherine Volpilhac-Auger : Dual Reading and Dual Writing: Diderot' s Principes de politique des souverains. Les principes de politique des souverains or Notes écrites de la main d'un souverain à la marge de Tacite is a difficult work, posing numerous problems of edition and interpretation. It is far from being simply a commentary on a hypothetical source text (a translation of Tacitus or a " political discourse " on his work) , and instead it has its own logic. It should not be read as a collection of isolated maxims but as a text which puts into practise the principle of a " dual reading " which is at the very heart of the work. For Tacitus is an author who can be interpreted as a supporter of absolutism or as someone who denounces tyranny. The different voices which can be heard in the Principes adopt this ambiguity in order to construct a discourse in which we can see the development of the philosopher and his pupil (who can easily be identified as the King of Prussia, but perhaps as other rulers) ; the philosopher's lessons finally justify the King's tyranny.