34. Rameau's Nephew by Denis Diderot

Now this I know I did read.  Denis Diderot lived in France, 1713 to 1784, and was a major philosopher of the French Enlightenment.  He edited the world's first Encyclopedia.

The narrator is a philosopher and describes his conversation with the nephew of the composer Rameau, who lives by his wits.  They discuss morality.  The philosopher says happiness is gained by being virtuous, and the nephew argues happiness is being rich and well-regarded by other people.

(I'm always suspicious when people set up dialogues to make their point - like Socrates.)

And I'm left wondering why Diderot chose Rameau to be the uncle of the hero?