Entretien d'un père avec ses enfants

by Denis Diderot

"Entretien d'un père avec ses enfants" by Denis Diderot is a moral tale published in 1773. Through a dialogue between a father, his children, and a doctor, the work explores ethical dilemmas where law conflicts with morality. The characters debate provocative questions: Should a doctor save a condemned criminal? When do unjust laws permit good citizens to rise above them? Diderot challenges legal systems that punish the innocent while letting the dishonest go free, yet acknowledges the dangers of everyone claiming the right to transgress laws.