The Philosopher without the knowledge

the Philosopher without the knowledge is a comedy in 5 acts and prose of Michel-Jean Sedaine (1719 - 1797), represented for the first time on the Théâtre of the street of the Ditches Saint-Germain the December 2nd 1765.

History

The part had, at the beginning, of the difficulties with the censure which saw an apology for the duel there. Actually, the philosopher without the knowledge, Mr. Vanderk, condemns this practice which it describes of “disastrous prejudice” and “cruel abuse” and approves the laws enacted against it, that he considers “wise but insufficient” (Act III , scene 12) while the two young duellists reconcile themselves at the end by measuring the stupidity of their behavior. But it is true also that Mr. Vanderk estimates, in the part, that since his/her son committed himself fighting, it is not more possible to move back without dishonor, which could explain the attitude of the censure.

Whereas work was to be represented with the Comédie-Française the October 21st 1765, Sedaine was put in residence to modify its text. After resisthaving resisted a long time, it had to yield and the general Lieutenant of police force, Antoine de Sartine, in person attended a repetition to make sure of the changes and to check that the representation could be authorized. The part was then printed with these changes at the beginning of 1766. But author, which judged that the text thus amended had lost its force and did not comfort itself any, made print a clandestine appendix which was slipped into some specimens and made it possible to the readers to restore the original version.

These deteriorations had not prevented the success of the part which, after some uncertainties, was triumphal. The work was encensé by the Philosophers, and particularly by Denis Diderot and Melchior Grimm.

Analyzes

The success gained by the Philosopher without the knowledge is due less to the ideas developed than with the innovation of the form.

The bottom is indeed rather mean. The part, as its author underlined it, could certainly have for consequence to rehabilitate the term Philosophe , extremely décrié since the part of Charles Palissot de Montenoy, the Philosophers , represented in 1760. For the remainder, one finds there an apology for the trade (Act II , scene 4) and a certain levelling spirit, in the name of the idea that the nobility of heart is not the monopoly of a class.

On the other hand, the form struck the contemporaries like the perfect realization of the dramatic ideal stated by Diderot and imperfectly reached by this one in the Father : that of a theater intimist, in which the spectator has the feeling to be on one level with the life of a family.

Critical posterity

The part was extremely admired at the 19th century. Théophile Gautier called Sedaine “the Greuze theater” while Victor Hugo did not hesitate to bring it closer to Eschyle. George Sand composed a continuation of the Philosophe without the knowledge entitled the marriage of Victorine .

External bonds

the Philosopher without the knowledge : Full text on the numeric library Gallica

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