DIALOGUES ON CONSCIOUSNESS

Riccardo Manzotti & Tim Parks


Over a period of many years, the celebrated English novelist Tim Parks and the Italian philosopher Riccardo Manzotti have been discussing the nature of consciousness. Not long ago, Parks suggested to his friend that they condense their exchanges “into a series of focused dialogues to set out the standard positions on consciousness, and suggest some alternatives.”

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RAMEAU’S NEPHEW

Denis Diderot


A fictional conversation between the author and the young, cynical bohemian nephew of French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau, set in a Parisian café. As they display their wit and show off their knowledge, the conversation begins to resemble a chess game. The two men satirize society, in which mediocrity is allowed to flourish, and discuss the nature of genius, music, and art.