Catherine II

What Dominique Pagani says

Dominique Pagani mentions Catherine II only occasionally, always in passing while discussing other subjects. He refers to her mainly for her relationship with Diderot: she calls for him or invites him to her side12, and he presents her as advised by him3. These remarks come up in sessions devoted to Hegel, Leibniz and Madame de Staël, where she appears in connection with Diderot. In a session on crisis, war and whether it is still possible to philosophize, he also reports a rumour that she had her lovers executed4. In the Musicosophie series, on happiness and unhappiness in music, he cites her court as a place where pleasure remains the privilege of an aristocracy5. The passages dwell neither on her political action nor on her own historical role. She appears in them mainly as the sovereign linked to Diderot and as an example of an aristocratic court.

1. 1Hegel Plage 1/51 Feb 2016 · 31:30
2. 2Staël (Mme de )26 May 2019 · 19:12
3. 3Leibniz1 Aug 2017 · 57:55
4. 4#2.4 Entre crise et guerre : Philosopher ?10 Mar 2016 · 1:23:47
5. 5Musicosophie 8. Bonheur et malheur en musique11 Jan 2021 · 1:09:08

Summary produced automatically from 5 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.