Trouble et séduction dans les dialogues scientifiques. Les Entretiens sur la pluralité des Mondes, ou l’invention d’une pédagogie « socratique »

Abstract

The dialogue is not necessarily a suitable form for teaching. Plato’s dialogues may have made it seem so, but in fact this philosopher invented a form, a type of exchange, in order to serve his pedagogy. In the 18th century, appeared a dialogue aiming at teaching the new sciences, which duplicates and reveals Plato’s act. Invented by Fontenelle, and often imitated, this type of dialogue, in the shadow of Socrates, confronts the inherent difficulties of this genre, and overcomes them by inventing a pedagogy based on uneasiness and discomfort, a pedagogy that challenges the women playing the role of pupil, (the famous « Marquises ») not to let themselves be fooled by the philosopher who instructs them.

Keywords

• Dialogue of ideas
• Fontenelle
• Algarotti
• pedagogy
• popularization of science