Summarise the philosophical beliefs of Voltaire?
1 Answer
Reason, rejection of Religion and individualism
Explanation:
Philosophically speaking Voltaire was an advocate of economic liberalism and could be compared to John Locke. His criticism of institutions like the Church and the French Monarchy and his use of satire makes him similar to Jonathan Swift. Voltaire though not an atheist hated the Catholic Church("écrasons l'infâme").
He was certainly not a great philosopher (and contributed to humiliate much greater ones in his prose such as Leibniz) and not a truly great writer. 18th century French Literature is rich in political writing mostly due to the Enlightment and Voltaire is a good example along with Diderot and Rousseau.
Voltaire was often depicted( by the French Republic in its school system for instance) as a defender of liberties and tolerance. It might be true in his prose but in reality he was very untolerant to such an extent that he ceontemplated the idea to have Rousseau, his biggest philosophical opponent asassinated. His positions on slavery(Candide, the Surinam slave) were just as hypocritical since he owned slaves himself.
Unlike Rousseau, he did not preach egalitarianism and did not become a model of the Jacobins and then of the Left(like Karl Marx or for the Bolsheviks), he simply advocated the idea that France should become a constitutional monarchy like Britain which he admired after his forced exile there. He wanted a regime far more convenient for the Bourgeoisie he was a member of.
