On a somewhat related note, what is the significance of Diderot's choice to position his story in the context of a foreign and relatively unknown land? How does this influence the reader's understanding of his argument?
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I think Diderot presents his his position in the encyclopedia, because he wants the reader to take what he is saying as fact. Sex is natural, and it is not something to be ashamed of. He then also shows his opinion through a story. This is because it allows the reader to see WHY he knows sex is normal and natural. The encyclopedia is the fact, the story is the argument.
Diderot probably chose to position his story in the context of a foreign and unknown land, because then people won't be able to say "This is not true at all!" Instead, because of their lack of knowledge of the country forces them to accept what he says.
I agree with Katie that Diderot probably presented his argument in an encyclopedia entry juxtaposed with a story and dialog because he did not want his reader to see bias in his definition of "enjoyment". He wanted them to take it as is. Then presenting his argument in a different genre will help reach out to a larger audience and will create a larger understanding of "enjoyment". However, I don't believe his argument in the story is that straight forward. Instead of working seamlessly along side the definition, I do believe that it complicates Diderot's position somewhat. Diderot says that enjoyment is "[...]to feel the advantages of possession" (265). However, in the story, The Almoner is very distraught about the offer to sleep with Orou's daughter. He eventually gives in to temptation, "the truthful almoner agrees that Providence had never exposed him to such violent temptation". Because he was so concerned with his "religion" and his "office" and after hearing his views on women and marriage, I cannot positively say that the almoner enjoyed his night with Thia by Diderot's definition because no where do I see evidence of the almoner feeling any type of ownership or possession over the girl--which is a key part of the definition of enjoyment.
The definition, story and subsequent dialogue between Orou and the Almoner were meant by Diderot to work together to deflect all the criticisms he thinks may arise from his definition. At first explaining what enjoyment is answers the "what" and "who," but the definition lacks context, example, the positive aspect of pleasure and the cons of rejecting it. The context he chooses, Tahiti, may be for two purposes: the Almoner brings forth the position known by the English at the time, but the "where" of this pleasure and enjoyment as argued by Diderot is nature ("nature everywhere offers", 265; "innocent pleasure to which nature, the sovereign mistress", 267; "opposed to nature and contrary to reason", 270).
Thus the environment is set up as one outside of the religious upbringing of the Almoner, but the dialogue serves to deflect all criticism the Almoner may have against Orou's offer of his family. Diderot has foreseen the possible arguments of his readers, the problems of religion and office, and thus uses the characters to have this argument with the reader. Hence everyone maintains their positions without TOO much conflict being put on any; being outside of civilized society, in nature, the Almoner can be convinced of the unnatural restrictions set by God, priests, and the subsequent punishments. The reader can understand both views in this way, and Diderot has made his criticism of English society and rules without having to say "I think." Instead, he uses Orou to study examples of English life from a purely natural, utilitarian perspective (273).
I essentially agree with Lauren's overall point, however I interpreted the "To enjoy means to know, to experience, to feel the advantages of possession" (265) quote somewhat differently than she did. Whereas Lauren's interpretation has Diderot simply saying that possession is equal to pleasure, I think the true meaning is unlocked in the next few sentences. Diderot goes on to point out, rather cheekily, that while "The sovereign"(265) may own a large palace or garden, the person who actually walks in them is the one who is enjoying them (265). If you are then to apply this principle to one of the main topics of the essay, say, marriage, the analogue would be something along the lines of 'You may be married to her/him, but unless you're enjoying her/his pleasures, like someone else may be, you're really not experiencing enjoyment at all". In this way his introduction to the story section is actually congruous to the story section itself, where we see such a principle firmly in place.
The form of this text as part encyclopedia entry and part dialogue makes the reader switch gears when reading. As some others have been saying, the encyclopedia is fact. It's true, it's a statement. The dialogue helped me to understand the argument. I wasn't searching for meaning in paragraphs of prose. The question and answer model sets up an opportunity for the author to get information out there easily. Even beyond the dialogue is the foreign land setting which made me feel like the dialogue was a teaching opportunity, a lesson between the Almoner and Orou. But it goes beyond these two characters to teach the audience.
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