Bougainville

Summary

Dominique Pagani does not analyse Bougainville in his own right. He always mentions him in the same context: that of Kant, whom he presents as a contemporary of the great voyages of exploration. In several sessions, he names him alongside Cook among the navigators of the period12. He uses him to shed light on a feature of Kant's writing: in his view, the philosopher's geographical metaphors are explained by the discoveries of these explorers. These mentions recur from 2017 to 2026 in sessions on very different subjects: Nerval, Greek mythology, Popper, evil, the Copernican revolution, and the relation between nature and freedom. Each time he says much the same thing: Bougainville serves as a historical reference point that places Kant in the age of exploration34. The passages say nothing about the voyages themselves or about the navigator's writings. Nor do they say which of Kant's metaphors are meant.

1. 1#4.3 Angélique (by Nerval)11 Dec 2017 · 51:04
2. 2Evil, or the “unknowing” of the self2 Dec 2024 · 50:03
3. 3From Copernicus to Lenin: revolution!28 Aug 2026 · 46:33
4. 4Nature vs. freedom?8 Oct 2026 · 37:21

Summary produced automatically from 6 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.