Voltaire

Definition

Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher known for his wit and advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade. His works often challenged established institutions, particularly the church and the state, influencing later thinkers and writers, including those of the American Enlightenment. His relationship with writers like Phillis Wheatley highlights the interconnectedness of Enlightenment ideals across cultures and regions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Voltaire is best known for his satirical novella 'Candide,' which critiques optimism and explores the theme of human suffering.
2. His famous phrase 'écrasez l'infâme' translates to 'crush the infamous thing,' referring to intolerance and superstition, which he passionately opposed.
3. Voltaire's ideas about freedom of expression had a significant impact on both the American and French Revolutions.
4. He was a prolific writer, producing works in various genres, including plays, poetry, essays, and historical writings.
5. Voltaire's correspondence with other Enlightenment figures, such as John Locke and Rousseau, helped to spread Enlightenment ideas globally.

Review Questions

• How did Voltaire's writings reflect the principles of the Enlightenment, and what impact did they have on contemporary thought?
  • Voltaire's writings embodied Enlightenment principles by promoting reason, skepticism of authority, and civil liberties. His critiques of religious intolerance and advocacy for freedom of expression resonated with other Enlightenment thinkers and laid the groundwork for future social and political reforms. By challenging established norms through wit and satire, Voltaire influenced both his contemporaries and later generations to question traditional beliefs.
• In what ways did Voltaire's ideas about civil liberties resonate with or differ from those expressed in Phillis Wheatley's poetry?
  • Voltaire's emphasis on civil liberties, particularly freedom of speech and religion, finds echoes in Phillis Wheatley's poetry, where she advocates for the dignity and rights of African Americans. While Voltaire critiqued institutional oppression largely within European contexts, Wheatley's work reflects her own experiences as an enslaved person in America, calling for recognition of her humanity. Both writers challenge prevailing attitudes of their time but do so from different cultural perspectives.
• Evaluate how Voltaire's philosophy might have influenced Phillis Wheatley’s approach to addressing social issues through her poetry.
  • Voltaire's philosophy likely provided Wheatley with a framework to articulate her own struggles against oppression and advocate for social change. By championing reason and criticizing societal injustices, Voltaire’s ideas may have empowered Wheatley to address themes of freedom and morality in her work. This connection illustrates how Enlightenment thought transcended geographic boundaries, enabling writers like Wheatley to draw on these ideas to confront their own societal challenges while seeking validation for their identity as poets.

Related terms

Enlightenment:

An intellectual movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

Civil Liberties: The personal rights and freedoms that protect individuals from government overreach, often emphasized in Enlightenment writings.

Philosophes: A group of French intellectuals during the Enlightenment who advocated for reason, science, and reform of society through their writings.