Citizendia
Your Ad Here

For other uses, see Voltaire (disambiguation).
François-Marie Arouet

Voltaire at 24, by Nicolas de Largillière. Nicolas de Largillière ( October 10, 1656 - March 20, 1746) French painter, was born in Paris.
Born 21 November 1694
Paris, France
Died 30 May 1778
Paris, France
Pen name Voltaire
Occupation Philosopher
Nationality French
Influences
Influenced

François-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, Freemason[1], deist and philosopher known for his wit, philosophical sport, and defense of civil liberties, including freedom of religion. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a Pseudonym adopted by an Author or their publishers to conceal their identity Employment is a Contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Nationality is a relationship between a Person and their State of Origin, Culture, association Affiliation and/or Loyalty Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( John Locke (29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704 was an English Philosopher. Sir Isaac Newton, FRS (ˈnjuːtən 4 January 1643 31 March 1727) Biography Early years See also Isaac Newton's early life and achievements Victor-Marie Hugo ( ( February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885) was a French Poet, Playwright, Novelist Thomas Paine (January 29 1737 &ndash June 8 1809 was an English Pamphleteer, Revolutionary, radical, Inventor, and Intellectual Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, Marquis de Sade ( June 2, 1740 – December 2, 1814) ( was a French aristocrat Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15 1844 August 25 1900 ( was a nineteenth-century German philosopher and classical philologist Sir Alfred Jules ("Freddie" Ayer ( October 29, 1910 &ndash June 27, 1989) better known as A Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a Pseudonym adopted by an Author or their publishers to conceal their identity This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms This article is an abbreviated list of Essayists - individuals notable for writing essays on various topics Deism is the belief that a supreme God exists and created the physical universe and that religious truths can be arrived at by the application of reason alone without dependence on revelation Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Wit is a form of intellectual Humour. A wit (person is someone skilled in making witty remarks thumb| |Broken Liberty Istanbul Archaeology Museum Civil liberties are freedoms that protect the Individual from the Government. Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance He was an outspoken supporter of social reform despite strict censorship laws and harsh penalties for those who broke them. Reform Movement redirects here For specific organizations by that name see Reform Movement (disambiguation A reform movement is a kind Censorship is the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable harmful or sensitive as determined by a censor A satirical polemicist, he frequently made use of his works to criticize Catholic Church dogma and the French institutions of his day. Polemics (pəˈlɛmɪks/ /poʊ- is the practice of disputing or controverting religious, philosophical, or political matters Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek, plural) is the established Belief or

Voltaire was one of several Enlightenment figures (along with John Locke and Thomas Hobbes) whose works and ideas influenced important thinkers of both the American and French Revolutions. John Locke (29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704 was an English Philosopher. Thomas Hobbes (born 5 April 1588died 4 December 1679 was an English philosopher, whose famous 1651 book Leviathan established the foundation The Founding Fathers of the United States are the Political leaders who signed the Declaration of Independence or otherwise participated in the The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an

Contents

Biography

Early career

François-Marie Arouet was born in Paris France, the youngest of the five children of François Arouet (1650–1 January 1722), a notary who was a minor treasury official, and his wife, Marie Marguerite d'Aumart (ca. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1722 ( MDCCXXII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a A notary public is an officer who can administer Oaths and Statutory Declarations Witness and authenticate documents 1660–13 July 1701), from a noble family of Poitou province. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. Voltaire was educated by Jesuits at the Collège Louis-le-Grand (1704-11), where he learned Latin and Greek; later in life he became fluent in Italian, Spanish, and English. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order The Lycée Louis-le-Grand (sometimes nicknamed LLG) is a public Secondary school located in Paris, widely regarded as one of the most demanding in Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States From 1711 to 1713 he studied law. Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society Before devoting himself entirely to writing, Voltaire worked as a secretary to the French ambassador in the Netherlands, where he fell in love with a French refugee named Catherine Olympe Dunoyer. An ambassador is the highest ranking Diplomat who represents their country The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race Their scandalous elopement was foiled by Voltaire's father and he was forced to return to France. Most of Voltaire's early life revolved around Paris until his exile. From the beginning Voltaire had trouble with the authorities for his energetic attacks on the government and the Catholic Church. These activities were to result in numerous imprisonments and exiles. In his early twenties he spent eleven months in the Bastille for allegedly writing satirical verses about the aristocracy. The Bastille was a Fortress - Prison in Paris, known formally as Bastille Saint-Antoine —Number 232 Rue Saint-Antoine—best known today Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations

After graduating, Voltaire began his career in literature. His father, however, intended his son to be educated in the law. Voltaire, pretending to work in Paris as an assistant to a lawyer, spent much of his time writing satirical poetry. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person When his father found him out, he again sent Voltaire to study law, this time in the provinces. Nevertheless, he continued to write, producing essays and historical studies not always noted for their accuracy. Voltaire's wit made him popular among some of the aristocratic families. In 1719, he became involved in the Cellamare conspiracy of Giulio Alberoni against Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the regent for Louis XV of France. Year 1719 ( MDCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Giulio Alberoni ( May 30, 1664 OS - June 26 NS 1752 was an Italian cardinal and Statesman in the service of Philip Philippe II Duke of Orléans ( August 2, 1674 &ndash December 2, 1723) was a member of the royal family of France Louis XV (15 February 1710 &ndash 10 May 1774 ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774 One of his writings about the Régent led to his being imprisoned in the Bastille, as previously mentioned. Philippe II Duke of Orléans ( August 2, 1674 &ndash December 2, 1723) was a member of the royal family of France While there, he wrote his debut play, Œdipe, and adopted the name Voltaire which came from his hometown in southern France. Œdipe's success began Voltaire's influence and brought him into the French Enlightenment.

Voltaire was a prolific writer, and produced works in almost every literary form, authoring plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works, over 20,000 letters and over two thousand books and pamphlets. Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story An essay is usually a short piece of writing It is often written from an author's personal point of view. A pamphlet is an unbound Booklet (that is without a hard cover or binding)

The name "Voltaire"

The name "Voltaire," which he adopted in 1718 not only as a pen name but also in daily use, is an anagram of AROVET LI, the Latinised spelling of his surname, Arouet, and the initial letters of the sobriquet "le jeune" ("the younger"). An anagram ( Greek anagramma 'letters written anew' passive participle of ana- 'again' + gramma 'letter' is a type of Word play The name also echoes in reversed order the syllables of a familial château in the Poitou region: "Airvault". Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. Airvault is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France. The adoption of this name after his incarceration at the Bastille is seen by many to mark a formal separation on the part of Voltaire from his family and his past.

Richard Holmes [2] supports the origin of the name, but adds that a writer such as Voltaire would have intended the name to carry its connotations of speed and daring. Richard Holmes (born 1945 is a British author best-known for his biographical studies of major figures of British and French Romanticism. These come from associated words such as: "voltige" (acrobatics on a trapeze or horse), "volte-face" (spinning about to face your enemies), and "volatile" (originally any winged creature). Arouet was not a noble name to suit his growing reputation, especially due to the fact of its similarities with "rouer" (for beating) and "roué" (a debauchee).

Poetry

From an early age, Voltaire displayed a talent for writing verse, and his first published work was poetry. He wrote two long poems, the Henriade, and La Pucelle d'Orléans, besides many other smaller pieces. right|thumb|Title page of ''La Henriade'' (1778 [[Geneva]] Edition

The Henriade was written in imitation of Virgil, using the Alexandrine couplet reformed and rendered monotonous for dramatic purposes. Publius Vergilius Maro ( October 15, 70 BCE &ndash September 21, 19 BCE later called Virgilius, and known in English as Virgil or An alexandrine is a line of poetic meter comprising 12 Syllables Alexandrines are common in the German literature of the Baroque period and Voltaire lacked enthusiasm for and understanding of the subject, both of which negatively affected the poem's quality. The Pucelle, on the other hand, is a burlesque work attacking religion and history. Burlesque is theatrical entertainment of broad and parodic humor which usually consists of comic skits (and sometimes a strip tease) Voltaire's minor poems are generally considered superior to either of these two works.

Prose

Many of Voltaire's prose works and romances, usually composed as pamphlets, were written as polemics. For the Wikipedia guideline regarding editing articles see WikipediaManual of Style. Polemics (pəˈlɛmɪks/ /poʊ- is the practice of disputing or controverting religious, philosophical, or political matters Candide attacks religious and philosophical optimism; L'Homme aux quarante ecus, certain social and political ways of the time; Zadig and others, the received forms of moral and metaphysical orthodoxy; and some were written to deride the Bible. --> Candide ou l'Optimisme (1759 is a French Satire by the Enlightenment Philosopher Voltaire, English translations of which Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin In these works, Voltaire's ironic style, free of exaggeration, is apparent, particularly the restraint and simplicity of the verbal treatment. Candide in particular is the best example of his style.

Bust of Voltaire by Houdon.
Bust of Voltaire by Houdon. Jean-Antoine Houdon ( March 20, 1741 &ndash July 15, 1828) was a French neoclassical sculptor

Voltaire also has, in common with Jonathan Swift, the distinction of paving the way for science fiction's philosophical irony, particularly in his Micromégas. Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 Micromégas (1752 is a Short story written in the 18th century by the French Philosopher and Satirist Voltaire.

In general criticism and miscellaneous writing, Voltaire's writing was comparable to his other works. Almost all of his more substantive works, whether in verse or prose, are preceded by prefaces of one sort or another, which are models of his caustic yet conversational tone. In a vast variety of nondescript pamphlets and writings, he displays his skills at journalism. In pure literary criticism his principal work is the Commentaire sur Corneille, although he wrote many more similar works — sometimes (as in his Life and notices of Molière) independently and sometimes as part of his Siécles.

Voltaire's works, especially his private letters, frequently contain the word "l'infâme" and the expression "écrasez l'infâme, or "crush the infamy". The phrase refers to abuses of the people by royalty and the clergy that Voltaire saw around him, and the superstition and intolerance that the clergy bred within the people [3]. He had felt these effects in his own exiles, in the confiscations of his books, and the hideous sufferings of Calas and La Barre. Jean Calas (1698 &ndash 1762 was a merchant living in Toulouse, France, famous for having been the victim of a biased trial due to his being a Protestant Jean-François, knight de la Barre (September 12 1745 - July 1 1766 was a French nobleman famous for having been Tortured and beheaded before his body

The most oft-cited Voltaire quotation is apocryphal. He is incorrectly credited with the quote "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. " These were not his words but instead were written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall (under the pseudonym S. Evelyn Beatrice Hall, (1868 - 1919 who wrote under the Pseudonym S G. Tallentyre), in her 1906 biographical book The Friends of Voltaire. The Friends of Voltaire written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall under the pseudonym S Hall intended to summarize in her own words Voltaire's attitude towards Claude Adrien Helvétius and his controversial book De l'esprit, but her first-person expression was mistaken for an actual quotation from Voltaire. Claude Adrien Helvétius (26 February 1715&ndash26 December 1771 was a French Philosopher and Litterateur. Her interpretation does capture the spirit of Voltaire' attitude towards Helvetius ; it had been said that this was inspired by a quote found in a 1770 letter to M. le Roche, in which he says "I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write. " [4], nevertheless, French scholars feel there must have been some misinterpretation, as the letter doesn't seem to contain any such quote [5]. Voltaire's largest philosophical work is the Dictionnaire philosophique, comprising articles contributed by him to the Encyclopédie and several minor pieces. The Dictionnaire philosophique ( Philosophical Dictionary) is an Encyclopedic dictionary published by Voltaire in 1764 Encyclopédie ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences des arts et des métiers (Encyclopedia or a systematic dictionary of the sciences arts and crafts was a general It directed criticism at French political institutions, Voltaire's personal enemies, the Bible, and the Roman Catholic Church. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin

Amongst other targets, Voltaire was a critic of France's colonial policy in North America, dismissing the vast territory of New France as "a few acres of snow" ("quelques arpents de neige"). The Viceroyalty of New France (Nouvelle-France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the " A few acres of snow " (in the original French, " quelques arpents de neige " is one of several quotations from Voltaire, the 18th-century

Letters

Voltaire also engaged in an enormous amount of private correspondence during his life, totaling over 21,000 letters. His personality shows through in the letters that he wrote: his energy and versatility, his unhesitating flattery, his ruthless sarcasm, his unscrupulous business faculty, and his resolve to double and twist in any fashion so as to escape his enemies.

Exile to England

Voltaire's repartee continued to get him into trouble. After he offended a young nobleman, the Chevalier de Rohan, the Rohan family had a lettre de cachet issued, a secret warrant that allowed for the punishment of people who had committed no crimes or who possibly posed a risk to the royal family, and used it to exile Voltaire without a trial. In French history lettres de cachet were letters signed by the king of France, countersigned by one of his ministers and closed with the royal seal or Exile means to be away from one's home (ie city state or country while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened by prison or death upon return The incident marked the beginning of Voltaire's attempt to improve the French judiciary system.

Voltaire's exile to England greatly influenced him through ideas and experiences. The young man was impressed by Britain's constitutional monarchy, as well as the country's support of the freedoms of speech and religion. A monarchy is a Form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual who is the Head of state, often for life or He was influenced by several of the neoclassical writers of the age, and developed an interest in earlier English literature, especially in the works of Shakespeare, still little known in continental Europe at the time. William Shakespeare ( baptised Despite pointing out his deviations from neoclassical standards, Voltaire saw Shakespeare as an example French writers might look up to, since drama in France, despite being more polished, lacked on-stage action. Later, however, as Shakespeare's influence was being increasingly felt in France, Voltaire would endeavour to set a contrary example with his own plays, decrying what he considered Shakespeare's barbarities.

After three years in exile, Voltaire returned to Paris and published his views on British attitudes towards government, literature and religion in a collection of essays in letter form entitled the Lettres philosophiques sur les Anglais (Philosophical letters on the English). Lettres anglaises ( English: Letters on the English or Letters Concerning the English Nation) is a series of essays written by Voltaire Because he regarded the British constitutional monarchy as more developed and more respectful of human rights (particularly religious tolerance) than its French counterpart, these letters met great controversy in France, to the point where copies of the document were burnt and Voltaire was again forced to leave France.

The Château de Cirey

Voltaire aged 70, an engraving from an 1843 edition of his Philosophical Dictionary
Voltaire aged 70, an engraving from an 1843 edition of his Philosophical Dictionary

Voltaire's next destination was the Château de Cirey, located on the borders of Champagne, France and Lorraine. The Dictionnaire philosophique ( Philosophical Dictionary) is an Encyclopedic dictionary published by Voltaire in 1764 Champagne is a historic province in the northeast of France, best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name Lorraine (Lothringen is one of the 26 régions of France. It is the only administrative region with two cities of equal importance Metz and Nancy The building was renovated with his money, and here he began a relationship with the Marquise du Châtelet, Gabrielle Émilie le Tonnelier de Breteuil. Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil marquise du Châtelet ( December 17, 1706 &ndash September 10, 1749) was a French Cirey was owned by the Marquise's husband, Marquis Florent-Claude du Chatelet, who sometimes visited his wife and her lover at the chateau. The relationship, which lasted for fifteen years, had a significant intellectual element. Voltaire and the Marquise collected over 21,000 books, an enormous number for the time. Together, they studied these books and performed experiments in the "natural sciences" (what we now call physics), in his laboratory. In Science, the term natural science refers to a naturalistic approach to the study of the Universe, which is understood as obeying rules or law of Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Voltaire's experiments included an attempt to determine the properties of fire.

Having learned from his previous brushes with the authorities, Voltaire began his future habit of keeping out of personal harm's way, and denying any awkward responsibility. He continued to write, publishing plays such as Mérope and some short stories. Again, a main source of inspiration for Voltaire were the years of his British exile, during which he had been strongly influenced by the works of Sir Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac Newton, FRS (ˈnjuːtən 4 January 1643 31 March 1727) Biography Early years See also Isaac Newton's early life and achievements Voltaire strongly believed in Newton's theories, especially concerning optics (Newton’s discovery that white light is composed of all the colors in the spectrum led to many experiments at Cirey), and gravity (the story of Newton and the apple falling from the tree is mentioned in Voltaire's Essai sur la poésie épique, or Essay on Epic Poetry). A spectrum (plural spectra or spectrums) is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. Although both Voltaire and the Marquise were curious about the philosophies of Gottfried Leibniz, a contemporary and rival of Newton, they remained "Newtonians" and based their theories on Newton’s works and ideas. Though it has been stated that the Marquise may have been more "Leibnizian", she did write "je newtonise," which, translated, means "I am 'newtoning'". Voltaire's book, Eléments de la philosophie de Newton (The Elements of Newton's Philosophies), was probably co-written with the Marquise, and describes the other branches of Newton's ideas that fascinated him, including optics and the theory of attraction (gravity).

Voltaire and the Marquise also studied history - particularly the people who had contributed to civilization up to that point. Voltaire's second essay in English had been Essay upon the Civil Wars in France. When he returned to France, he wrote a biographical essay of King Charles XII, which marks the beginning of Voltaire's rejection of religion; he wrote that human life is not destined or controlled by greater beings. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos The essay won him the position of historian in the king's court. Voltaire and the Marquise also worked with philosophy, particularly with metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dealing with the distant, and what cannot be directly proven: why and what life is, whether or not there is a God, and so on. Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Voltaire and the Marquise analyzed the Bible, trying to find its validity in the world. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Voltaire renounced religion; he believed in the separation of church and state and in religious freedom, ideas he formed after his stay in England. Separation of church and state is a Political and Legal Doctrine that Government and religious institutions are to be kept separate Voltaire even claimed that "One hundred years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker. "

Later life

After the death of the Marquise, Voltaire moved to Berlin to join Frederick the Great, a close friend and admirer of his. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the The king had repeatedly invited him to his palace, and now gave him a salary of 20,000 francs a year. Though life went well at first, he began to encounter difficulties. Faced with a lawsuit and an argument with the president of the Berlin Academy of science, Voltaire wrote the Diatribe du docteur Akakia (Diatribe of Doctor Akakia) which derided the president. Doctor Akakia (full title Histoire du Docteur Akakia et du Natif de St Malo) is a satirical essay of a very biting nature by Voltaire, directed against This greatly angered Frederick, who had all copies of the document burned and arrested Voltaire at an inn where he was staying along his journey home. Voltaire headed toward Paris, but Louis XV banned him from the city, so instead he turned to Geneva, where he bought a large estate. Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking Though he was received openly at first, the law in Geneva which banned theatrical performances and the publication of La pucelle d'Orléans against his will led to Voltaire's writing of Candide, ou l'Optimisme (Candide, or Optimism) in 1759 and his eventual departure. --> Candide ou l'Optimisme (1759 is a French Satire by the Enlightenment Philosopher Voltaire, English translations of which Candide, a satire on the philosophy of Leibniz, remains the work for which Voltaire is perhaps best known.

It is said that he said at his deathbed, "I am abandoned by God and man. " [6] Voltaire died on 30 May 1778 and his last words are said to have been, "For God's sake, let me die in peace. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or " [7]

Religion

Voltaire, though often thought an atheist, did in fact partake in religious activities and even erected a chapel on his estate at Ferney. Atheism A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a Ferney-Voltaire is a commune in the department of Ain in eastern France. The chief source for the misconception is a line from one of his poems (called "Epistle to the author of the book, The Three Impostors") that translates to: "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him. " The full body of the work, however, reveals his criticism was more focused towards the actions of organized religion, rather than with the concept of religion itself.

Like many other key figures during the European Enlightenment, Voltaire considered himself a Deist. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century Deism is the belief that a supreme God exists and created the physical universe and that religious truths can be arrived at by the application of reason alone without dependence on revelation He did not believe that absolute faith, based upon any particular or singular religious text or tradition of revelation, was needed to believe in God. In fact, Voltaire's focus instead on the idea of a universe based on reason and a respect for nature reflected the contemporary Pantheism, increasingly popular throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and which continues in a form of deism today known as "Voltairean Pantheism. Pantheism ( Greek: πάν ( 'pan') = all and θεός ( 'theos') = God it literally means " God is All "

He wrote, "What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason. " [8] [9]

In terms of religious texts, Voltaire was largely of the opinion that the Bible was 1) an outdated legal and/or moral reference, 2) by and large a metaphor, but one that still taught some good lessons, and 3) a work of Man, not a divine gift. These beliefs did not hinder his religious practice, however, though it did gain him somewhat of a bad reputation in the Catholic Church. It may be noted that Voltaire was indeed seen as somewhat of a nuisance to many believers, and was almost universally known; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote to his father the year of Voltaire's death, saying, "The arch-scoundrel Voltaire has finally kicked the bucket. . . . " [10]

Voltaire was also critical of Muhammad. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics His play Fanaticism, or Mahomet was “written in opposition to the founder of a false and barbarous sect”; he also referred to Muhammad as “a false prophet. Mahomet ( Le fanatisme ou Mahomet) aka "The Fanaticism or Mahomet " is a play in five acts written in 1736 by French Playwright IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics ”[11] However, his views on Islam were more favourable. He called him the founder of "a wise, severe, chaste, and humane religion", and also said "The legislator of the Muslims, a terrible and powerful man, established his dogmas with his valor and arms; yet, his religion became benign and tolerant. " [1]

From translated works on Confucianism and Legalism, Voltaire drew on Chinese concepts of politics and philosophy - which were based on rational principles, to look critically at European organized religion and hereditary aristocracy.

Voltaire also displayed, as part of his Dictionnaire philosophique, an inclination towards the ideas of Hinduism and the works of Brahmin priests, asking, "Is it not probable that the Brahmins were the first legislators of the earth, the first philosophers, the first theologians?" His attitudes towards religious institutions are further shown in the criticisms he made of Christian missionaries in India. The Dictionnaire philosophique ( Philosophical Dictionary) is an Encyclopedic dictionary published by Voltaire in 1764 Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism.

There is an apocryphal story that his home at Ferney was purchased by the Geneva Bible Society and used for printing Bibles, but this appears to be due to a misunderstanding of the 1849 annual report of the American Bible Society [2]PDF (2. The American Bible Society ( ABS) is a group founded in 1816, that publishes distributes and translates the Bible. 18 MiB). A mebibyte (a contraction of me ga bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, abbreviated MiB. Voltaire's chateau is now owned and administered by the French Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture is in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national museums and monuments promoting and protecting the arts (visual

Freemasonry

Voltaire was initiated into Freemasonry shortly before his death. On 7 April 1778 Voltaire accompanied Benjamin Franklin into Loge des Neuf Soeurs in Paris, France and became an Entered Apprentice Freemason. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. [12][13]

Legacy

Voltaire perceived the French bourgeoisie to be too small and ineffective, the aristocracy to be parasitic and corrupt, the commoners as ignorant and superstitious, and the church as a static force useful only as a counterbalance since its "religious tax" or the tithe helped to create a strong backing for revolutionaries. Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations A tithe (from Old English teogoþa "tenth" is a one-tenth part of something paid as a (usually voluntary contribution or as a Tax or levy

Voltaire at Frederick the Great's Sanssouci. Engraving by Baquoy.
Voltaire at Frederick the Great's Sanssouci. Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the Sanssouci is the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, at Potsdam, near Engraving by Baquoy. Pierre Charles Baquoy ( Paris, July 27, 1759 - Paris, February 4, 1829) was a French painter and

Voltaire distrusted democracy, which he saw as propagating the idiocy of the masses [3]. Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system To Voltaire, only an enlightened monarch or an enlightened absolutist, advised by philosophers like himself, could bring about change as it was in the king's rational interest to improve the power and wealth of his subjects and kingdom. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Voltaire essentially believed enlightened despotism to be the key to progress and change.

He also believed that Africans were a separate species, inferior to the Europeans, and that ancient Jews were "an ignorant and barbarous people. "[14][15]

The most enduring of Voltaire's written works is his novella, Candide, ou l'Optimisme (Candide, or Optimism, 1759), which satirized the philosophy of optimism. --> Candide ou l'Optimisme (1759 is a French Satire by the Enlightenment Philosopher Voltaire, English translations of which Candide was also subject to censorship and Voltaire jokingly claimed that the actual author was a certain "Dr DeMad" in a letter, where he reaffirmed the main polemical stances of the text. [4]

Voltaire is also known for many memorable aphorisms, such as: "Si Dieu n'existait pas, il faudrait l'inventer" ("If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him"), contained in a verse epistle from 1768, addressed to the anonymous author of a controversial work, The Three Impostors.

Voltaire's château at Ferney, France.
Voltaire's château at Ferney, France. For other senses of this word see Château (disambiguation. A château (plural châteaux) is a Manor house or residence Ferney-Voltaire is a commune in the department of Ain in eastern France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

Voltaire is remembered and honored in France as a courageous polemicist who indefatigably fought for civil rights — the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion — and who denounced the hypocrisies and injustices of the ancien régime. The right to fair trial is an essential right in all countries respecting the Rule of law. Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance Ancien Régime ( pronounced: /ɑ̃sjɛ̃ ʁeʒim/ refers primarily to the aristocratic social and political system established in The ancien régime involved an unfair balance of power and taxes between the First Estate (the clergy), the Second Estate (the nobles), and the Third Estate (the commoners and middle class, who were burdened with most of the taxes).

Voltaire's tomb in Paris' Pantheon.
Voltaire's tomb in Paris' Pantheon. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The Panthéon ( Latin Pantheon, from Greek Pantheon meaning "All the gods" is a building in the Latin Quarter

Thomas Carlyle argued that, while Voltaire was unsurpassed in literary form, not even the most elaborate of his works were of much value for matter and that he never uttered an original idea of his own. Thomas Carlyle (4 December 1795 – 5 February 1881 was a Scottish essayist satirist and historian whose work was highly influential during the Victorian era.

According to a review in the 7 March 2005 issue of The New Yorker of Voltaire's Garden, a mathematician friend of his realized in 1728 that the French government had authorized a lottery in which the prize was much greater than the collective cost of the tickets. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He and Voltaire formed a syndicate, collected all the money, and became moneylenders to the great houses of Europe. Syndicate comes from French syndicat which means Trade union ( syndic meaning administrator) from the Latin word syndicus

The town of Ferney, France, where Voltaire lived out the last 20 years of his life (though he died in Paris), is now named Ferney-Voltaire in honor of its most famous resident. Ferney-Voltaire is a commune in the department of Ain in eastern France. Ferney-Voltaire is a commune in the department of Ain in eastern France. His château is a museum. For other senses of this word see Château (disambiguation. A château (plural châteaux) is a Manor house or residence A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the

Voltaire's library is preserved intact in the Russian National Library at St. Petersburg, Russia. The National Library of Russia in St Petersburg, known as the State Public Saltykov-Shchedrin Library in 1932-1992 (i Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending

In 1791 Voltaire's remains were interred at Paris' Panthéon. The Panthéon ( Latin Pantheon, from Greek Pantheon meaning "All the gods" is a building in the Latin Quarter

According to poet Richard Armour, Voltaire's friendship with Frederick William existed because "Frederick considered Voltaire to be immensely clever and so did Voltaire. Richard Willard Armour (1906&ndash1989 was an American Poet and author who wrote over sixty books Frederick William II (Friedrich Wilhelm II September 25 1744 &ndash November 16 1797) was the fourth King of Prussia, reigning from "

Bibliography

Major works

Plays

Voltaire wrote between fifty and sixty plays, including a few unfinished ones. --> Candide ou l'Optimisme (1759 is a French Satire by the Enlightenment Philosopher Voltaire, English translations of which The Dictionnaire philosophique ( Philosophical Dictionary) is an Encyclopedic dictionary published by Voltaire in 1764 L'Ingénu is a satirical novella by the French writer Voltaire, published in 1767. Épître à l'Auteur du Livre des Trois Imposteurs (1770 (English title Letter to the author of The Three Impostors) is an Epistle in verse form written by Among them are these:

Historical

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Benjamin Franklin. Classical liberalism (also known as traditional liberalism, Laissez-faire liberalism, Market liberalism or in much of the world This is a partial list of individual contributions to liberal political theory on a worldwide scale This is a list of notable Freemasons Cousin coupleThis is a list of prominent individuals who have been romantically or maritally coupled with a Cousin, Niece, Nephew, Aunt Political fiction is a Subgenre of Fiction that deals with Political affairs. . . urged Voltaire to become a freemason; and Voltaire agreed, perhaps only to please Franklin. He was initiated into a Parisian masonic lodge. . . at the age of 83, less than two months before his death. . . . Ridley, Jasper.The Freemasons: A History of the World's Most Powerful Secret Society (2002) pg. 112
  2. ^ Voltaire's Grin
  3. ^ Palmer, R. R. ; Colton, Joel (1950). A History of the Modern World. McGraw-Hill, Inc. . ISBN 0-07-040826-2.  
  4. ^ Boller, Jr. , Paul F. ; George, John (1989). They Never Said It: A Book of Fake Quotes, Misquotes, and Misleading Attributions. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-505541-1.  
  5. ^ Note to the Tolerance article in the French Wikipedia http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tol%C3%A9rance#_note-0
  6. ^ The Eclectic Magazine, (1868) pg. 770
  7. ^ Norman Davies, Europe: A history p. 687
  8. ^ http://deism.com/voltaire.htm
  9. ^ Voltaire. W. Dugdale, A Philosophical Dictionary ver 2, 1843, Page 473 sec 1. Accessed October 31, 2007
  10. ^ Keffe, Simon P. Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. (2003). The Cambridge Companion to Mozart. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521001927.  
  11. ^ Voltaire Letter to Benedict XIV written in Paris on 17 August 1745 AD Your holiness will pardon the liberty taken by one of the lowest of the faithful, though a zealous admirer of virtue, of submitting to the head of the true religion this performance, written in opposition to the founder of a false and barbarous sect. Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Year 1745 ( MDCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a To whom could I with more propriety inscribe a satire on the cruelty and errors of a false prophet, than to the vicar and representative of a God of truth and mercy? Your holiness will therefore give me leave to lay at your feet both the piece and the author of it, and humbly to request your protection of the one, and your benediction upon the other; in hopes of which, with the profoundest reverence, I kiss your sacred feet.
  12. ^ I did not know that: Mason Facts.
  13. ^ Voltaire on British Columbia Grand Lodge Site.
  14. ^ Voltaire, François-Marie. Essai sur les Moeurs.  
  15. ^ Voltaire, François-Marie. Dictionnaire Philosophique.  

References

External links

Preceded by
Jean Bouhier		 Seat 33
Académie française
1746–1778		 Succeeded by
Jean-François Ducis
Persondata
NAME Voltaire
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Arouet, François-Marie (birth name); The Dictator of Letters
SHORT DESCRIPTION Enlightenment philosopher. Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil marquise du Châtelet ( December 17, 1706 &ndash September 10, 1749) was a French This is a list of members of the Académie française (French Academy by seat number L'Académie française, or the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. Jean-François Ducis ( August 22, 1733 &ndash March 31, 1816) was a French Dramatist and adapter of Shakespeare
DATE OF BIRTH 21 November 1694
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris, France
DATE OF DEATH 30 May 1778
PLACE OF DEATH Paris, France

Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

Dictionary

Voltaire

-proper noun

  1. pen name of the French philosopher François-Marie Arouet
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic