Voltaire-A Freethinker
Throughout history, different people have contributed their thoughts to the grand scheme of human intelligence and the world’s philosophy. One of these people, Voltaire, contributed his thoughts to the scheme of human intelligence in the form of his philosophies through his writing. Writing in a turbulent time during the French Revolution, when he wrote about unconventional ideas, he stirred up controversy. Voltaire’s controversy in his writing and his ideas as a free thinker made a lot of people, especially some in power, very angry. Influenced himself and led by such minds as Locke and Newton while in exile, Voltaire wrote different satires, letters, pamphlets and plays, all of which stirred up some measure of controversy
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While in college, he began writing. Being a free-thinker, his works were bound to stir up controversy, and that they did. He was sent to the Bastille, a French prison, once for eleven months, after a misattributed insult to Phillipe II d’Orléans, where he rewrote the tragedy Œdipe and began the Henriade, a poem about King Henry IV. Voltaire insulted the chevalier de Rohan, who had Voltaire beaten and whose family influence had him sent to the Bastille. Voltaire was finally let out on his promise to leave for England ("Francois Marie"). Not only did Voltaire stir up controversy with French nobles, he also managed to stir up controversy with religion, being a fierce, outspoken critic. He hated theocracy, saying that it was only a way to control the people. Theocracy, or a system of government in which the church is head of state, in Voltaire’s mind, corrupted people, leading them to do despicable things (Eve of the French). In general, Voltaire despised religion. He hated Christianity, hated Judaism, and ranged from calling Islam “a false and barbarous sect” to “a wise, severe, chaste and humane religion” ("Voltaire (Francois-Marie"). More specifically, Voltaire had many feuds throughout his career with the Catholic Church. Through years of letters, pamphlets, and plays, he led other philosophers to attack both church doctrine and clergy. Voltaire repeatedly insulted the clergy on their actions …show more content…
Thanks to him, philosophy expanded throughout Europe, exposing many people to intelligent thought on subjects that they had never discussed in much great length before (Eve of the French). His works influenced the thoughts behind both the American and French Revolutions, giving voice to their frustration and giving them inspiration to declare independence from an unfair, unjust king. Voltaire’s belief of freedom of speech and freedom of religion helped shape the rights people in most the world hold today (Eve of the French). Along with freedom of religion and speech, Voltaire also greatly supported the defense of civil liberties and the right to a fair trial, a few things that he was
The experiences he went through in his lifetime helped him develop his views on religion. He believed that everyone had the right to choose their religion and be free to practice that religion where they want. There would be conflicts between religious citizens and the government if there wasn’t freedom of religion. This choice should be available in England, according to Voltaire, to prevent problems from arising. “If one religion only were allowed in England, the government would very possibly become arbitrary; if there were two, the people would cut one another's throats; but as there are such multitude, they all live happy and in peace.”
Voltaire, more formally known as Francois-Marie Arouet, was a writer, philosopher and historian in the Age of Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment was the period of time from the late seventeenth century through early nineteenth century in which European thinkers and philosophers began to question and contradict typical styles of thinking. The belief behind this new Enlightenment thinking was that the human race could better themselves through simply creating reasonable change.
John Locke’s ideas on creating a government by the people and Voltaire’s ideas on practicing any religion shows how many enlightenment philosophers wanted people to live peacefully with others and the society. The ideas of many philosophers helped shape the capitalist, democratic world in which we live today. Today's government was created with a legislative and executive branch, like what Locke suggested and women have more rights, such as getting education and jobs that are same as those of men. Enlightenment philosophers main ideas on increasing human rights and equality helped create a better society during the Enlightenment period and
François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pseudonym Voltaire, was born into a well situated family in Paris, France in 1694. Voltaire’s father was a successful lawyer, but Voltaire had a difficult relationship with his father. He was educated at the Jesuit College Louis-le-Grand from 1704 to 1711. During his college years, Voltaire developed a love of literature and theater while at the same time, the religious instruction of his teachers prompted a skepticism and mockery of religion in general. Against the orders of his father, Voltaire decided to pursue a career in writing rather than law. Already comfortable with headstrong opposition to his family's authority, Voltaire began to find his place as a powerful critic of government and the Church for their abuse of power and injustice. Under the morally relaxed Reign of Louis XV in 1715, Voltaire became the “wit of Parisian society” through
Many classic books of literature of the French Enlightenment era comes from the famous author Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as his pen name, Voltaire.The French author was born on November 21st, 1694 and died May 30th, 1778 in the city of Paris. He started school at the Jesuit College of Louis-le-Grand at the age of 10 and graduated in 1711 with a motive of being a writer. However, Voltaire’s father did not agree with his choice of study and wanted Voltaire to study law. He went back to school to study law for another two years after his graduation. Voltaire was sent to The Hague, Netherlands in order to act as a secretary to the French ambassador at the time. During his visit, he became infatuated with Catherine Olympe de Noyer. Due to his love affair, Voltaire was discharged from the Dutch country to France “disinherited, and threatened with exile to the New World.” (Stanley 67). A few years later, Voltaire was accused of writing two satiric poems against the French regime because of his reputation in writing and was imprisoned at the Bastille from 1717 to 1718. During the time spent inside the prison, Voltaire wrote the tragedy called the Oedipe. After being released, Voltaire adopted the new of De Voltaire due to the commonness of the original name. His father died in 1722 and was released from his control. Voltaire also met Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher, the same year in Brussels, Belgium. From 1726 to 1728, Voltaire was sentenced to another term in the Bastille and exiled to England due to an encounter with “his growing squadron of enemies and spearheaded Chevalier de Rohan” (Stanley 67). He met the author by the name of Jonathan Swift during his exile. Voltaire was able to re-enter France in 1729, and p...
An enlightenment philosopher François-Marie Arouet, commonly known as Voltaire, wrote Candide. Voltaire “was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state (Wikipedia).” He was born November 21st 1694 into an upper-middle class family. Voltaire started showing an interest in writing at a young age. Candide was published in 1579. It was a French Satire. A satire is “the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues (Oxford Dictionary).” Candide mocks the ideas of the philosopher Leibnitz though the character of Pangloss because Leibnitz believed in an optimistic world and Voltaire feels that thinking this way makes one a hypocrite. Candide defines optimism as “a mania for insisting that all is well when things are going badly (Voltaire, p. 48).” Throughout the book, many themes and symbols are present.
Voltaire makes sure the reader can spot and see hypocrisy of religion and how they may judge others without following their own rules. "Alas!" said the old woman, "I have a shrewd suspicion of a reverend Grey Friar, who stayed last night in the same inn with us at Badajos. God preserve me from judging rashly, but he came into our room twice, and he set out upon his journey long before us." The person who stole Cunégonde’s money is a religious friar and he left before them which means he did not want to be caught. Religion is belief but only rarely, therefore most of the time sadly religion is hypocrisy and that is exactly how Voltaire wanted his readers to see it. With all his satire and sarcasm he made sure they see what religion is.
For centuries, many stories have been told about the war and sexual relationships with non-humans, such as the Trojan War, Hercules, and some mythological creatures such as the centaur. Before the twentieth century, all wars that happened were primitive which did not have any modern weapons such as the air force or tanks. Moreover, Voltaire, the fearless writer from French (Voltaire 98), although he lived at the end of the seventeenth century and the first half of the eighteenth, wrote some incredible stories in an era where liberal people have one place to reside solely in the jail. Besides, Voltaire was the lead writer of the French Revolution and has become a symbol of all revolutionaries. To write
“Ecrasons l’infame,” which is interpreted, “We must crush the vile thing.” This is the expression Voltaire used to articulate his feelings for organized religion. With many natural theists soon to follow his path, Voltaire expressed his hatred for cultural religions, opting for a universal God of nature. Given a few more centuries, Darwin would have given Voltaire the scientific theory to support his desire for atheism. But alas, with no other theory in place, intelligent individuals of 18th century France were forced to use creationism to explain the world in its beauty and organization. This, as previously stated, was not a problem for Voltaire. His issue was the moral implications that separated religious groups, often to the point of war with one another. Religious intolerance was a subject he dealt with in many of his works, especially Candide. The religious characters in this work were mostly negative with the exception of Brethren predecessor, the Anabaptist, and the old woman. His opinion of various religions was also established in Candide, although it was simply a vague one, clumping all organized religions into an “evil superstitions” category. The conclusion of this work also gave us insight on Voltaire’s view of religion as either positive or detrimental to society and the individual.
Autobiographer, essayist, playwright, poet, satirist, Enlightenment writer and philosopher – these are just a few of the hats worn by French born François-Marie Arouet, more famously known by the adopted pen name Voltaire. Beyond his written work Voltaire was an outspoken advocate for the freedom of religion, expression, and the separation of church and state. He used his versatile literary work as a tool to criticize the Catholic Church and overall intolerant French society. Voltaire’s cynical writing reached its highest potential in his rapid-fire satire Candide, or Optimism. In the novella, Voltaire told the story of Candide – a young man on a quest for happiness and spiritual fulfillment who encountered tragic setbacks that eventually led to bitter disillusionment. The purpose of Candide was to mock philosophers of the
Overall Voltaire is successful in promoting his ideas and beliefs. It is clear he wants to see a drastic change in religion, politics and morals in the pre-modern period. Throughout his novel Candide he is able to criticise society with a light hearted mockery but also with a seriousness using extreme examples to address his points and concerns. It is arguable that his ambitions were far too high at a time of hope and debate in the 18th century.
When Voltaire was young and attended “Louis-Le-Grand” in Paris, he wanted to become a writer. His father made him work as a legal assistant, but he didn't do much of a good job at that. Instead he
In Voltaire’s Candide, we are taken by the hand through an adventure which spanned two continents, several countries, and to a multitude of adverse characters. The protagonist, Candide, became the recipient of the horrors which would be faced by any person in the 18th century. But Candide was always accompanied with fellows sufferers, two of which our focus will lay, Pangloss and Martin. In equal respects, both are embodiments of different philosophies of the time: Pangloss the proponent of Optimism and Martin the proponent of Pessimism. Each of the two travelers is never together with Candide, until the end, but both entice him to picture the world in one of their two philosophies. Throughout the story there is an apparent ebb and flow from Candide on how to think of the world. By the end of his journey, Candide will be presented with evidence to lead to his agreement of either Optimism or Pessimism. But I submit, Candide does not become a firm believer in either philosophies but rather retains a philosophy in between Optimism and Pessimism, somewhat of a stoic mentality. Thus Voltaire’s opinion on philosophy will be predicated upon his character, Candide.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to death your right to say it,” were the famous words of Fracois Marie Arouet, more commonly known under the pen name of Voltaire. He was known for being very outspoken and rebellious, which got him into trouble with the authorities for most of his life. Voltaire advocated the French bourgeoisie as being ineffective, the aristocracy as being corrupt, and the commoners as being too superstitious. Voltaire’s beliefs on freedom and reason is what ultimately led to the French Revolution, the United States Bill of Rights, and the decrease in the power of the Catholic Church, which have all affected modern western society.