Showing results for "Voltaire" in History

The Age of Voltaire, the ninth volume of The Story of Civilization, is an in-depth examination of France and England in the first half of the 18th century.

Alongside the Renaissance, the Enlightenment is credited with the transition to an adherence to reason, secularism, and promotion of values such as the value of the individual, collective freedom, and liberty. At the heart of the movement in France was François-Marie Arouet, better known by the pen name Voltaire, whose writings advocated for greater liberalism, including freedom of religion and separation of church and state. Voltaire was a biting polemic whose satirical attacks on the Catholic Church were among the fiercest of his day.

In Little Blue Book Number 512, Will Durant delves into the life of Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire (1694-1778). Described as unprepossessing, ugly, vain, flippant, unscrupulous, and at times dishonest, he was also tirelessly kind and considerate, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to both his friends and his principles. My trade is to say what I think, Voltaire proclaimed, and he did so with remarkable flair across ninety-nine sparkling and fruitful volumes. A staunch advocate for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the separation of church and state, Voltaires ...

Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet in Paris, France, was a writer and leading figure of the Enlightenment. His insistence that all authority could and must be questioned was so radical, he ended up in prison several times and was ultimately exiled. Voltaire’s writings were instrumental in influencing the American and French revolutions. Man as a being with natural rights was a radical concept at the time, but one which the American founding fathers embraced. Voltaire’s anger was specifically directed at the arbitrary powers of the state and the church.

Join Col. Robert G. Ingersoll as he delves into the lives of remarkable individuals who have shaped our world. He eloquently states, It is hard to overstate the debt we owe to the men and women of genius. Ingersoll’s captivating lectures celebrate the profound impact of figures like Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Abraham Lincoln, Walt Whitman, and Voltaire, among others. This series not only honors these iconic personalities but also explores larger themes with speeches on The Great Infidels, the tension between science and superstition, and reflections on the Holy Bible. Each lecture from ...

One of France's greatest writers, Voltaire was frequently persecuted for his ideas and as a result, spent time in the famed Bastille. He fled his native land for England in 1726, at which time he witnessed the differences between the two countries. His celebrated Letters on England was first published in that nation in 1733 and contained 24 succinct letters on subjects ranging from religion and politics, to trade, the arts, philosophy, and science.

Voltaire was een Franse schrijver bekend om zijn humor en ironie. Ze waren zijn gereedschap voor de lancering van venijnige aanvallen op de gevestigde Katholieke kerk, de tegenstanders van de vrijheid van godsdienst en meningsuiting, en op de scheiding van kerk en staat. Zijn vruchtbare schrijven duurde bijna alle mogelijke literaire vorm: toneelstukken, romans, essays, maar ook gedichten, historische en wetenschappelijke werken.

The Enlightenment is looked upon fondly, and it serves to reinforce the notion that the present is superior to the past, but things did not change as rapidly or as completely as many believe. In fact, some recent historians have challenged the belief that the Enlightenment was responsible for the French Revolution, which is a vital issue when it comes to Voltaire. After all, Voltaire, as his contemporaries and as most of his modern listeners know him, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Enlightenment thought.