La philosophie dans les sciences

Sans résumé novembre 2000 Dominique Lecourt est président du Comité d'éthique de l'Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) et professeur de philosophie à l'université de Paris 7 où il dirige le centre Georges-Canguilhem (case courrier 7041, 2 place Jussieu, F-75251 Paris Cedex 05).     

Comment les Monades Conduisent Au Scepticisme

Wolff’s review of Leibniz’metaphysics is discussed in the correspondence between Voltaire and Frederick, the future Frederick II. Frederick attempts to introduce and to convert Voltaire to Wolffianism. Even though he declares it remarkable, Voltaire has little esteem for the Wolffian method. Rejecting Baylian fideism, Frederick is unwilling to renounce voluntarily the knowledge that can be acquired through reasoning. According to Voltaire, metaphysical truths remain inaccessible. The only defensible position is hence that of metaphysical scepticism. Frederick acknowledges this: having studied the sciences and observed the spirit of men, the inclination towards scepticism is natural. Hence, the debate on monads has led Frederick to renounce his previous Wolffianism. He is ready to become the perfect despot, pragmatic and realistic, a follower of the French Enlightenment.     

Les divisions dans les textes sanskrits

Sans résumé     

Eleusinia ‐ les mystères et l'agriculture

In reply to a recent contribution by C. Coppola (AFLN 21 [N.S. 9], 1978–79, 73–82), the authors discuss the reading and restoration of Cod. Marc. gr. 450, fol. l^r, col. II, lines 1–10, with apo‐graphs. Corrections and modifications to Coppola's text and critical apparatus are offered and a new restoration and translation of col. I, line 29, through col. II, line 13 (=Bibl. p. 1.8–14 Bekker), attempted.     

Le zervanisme et les manuscrits de la mer morte

Sans résumé     

Une Note de Max Weber sur les Danseuses Indiennes

The long note which Max Weber devotes to traditional Indian dancers in his study on the sociology of religions in India, Hinduism and Buddhism, is commented upon here through a comparison with one of the first German studies which deals with dance in India, The World history of the dance by Curt Sachs. Three themes are discussed: the relationship between the arts of the body and scholarly knowledge; the specificity of sacred arts, in this case the magical arts and the forms which correspond to them, such as the modes of apprenticeship which assure their transmission (understood as a «hereditary charisma»); the vision of women and the notion of the pure and the impure.