Didro and civilization of Russia

Expert of the XVIII century, Saratov historian S.A. Mezin comprehensively investigated the connections of the famous French philosopher Denis Didro with Russian culture. In a series of his "Russian" works, Didro with amazing insight managed to identify many pain points of Russia"s development. The thinker surprisingly noticed the weaknesses of the “reforms from above”, drew attention to the small efficiency of borrowing ready -made forms of European culture and to the dead ends in which Russia could be even under brilliant reformers, if certain economic, political and social conditions of the civilization process are not respected. The author analyzed the views of Didro and his contemporaries on why Russia is in a half -headed state, what are the successes of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great in the case of civilization of the country and what is the meaning of civilization in general