LITERATURE - Voltaire

Summary

Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet in 1694, was a French Enlightenment writer known for his wit and advocacy for reason, religious tolerance, and freedom of speech. His works, such as 'Candide' and 'Letters Concerning the English Nation,' critiqued religious intolerance and promoted deism. Voltaire's experiences in England influenced his views on a pluralistic society, and his later involvement in public causes, like the Calas case, showcased his commitment to justice. His legacy endures as a champion of liberal values.

Takeaways

• 📚 François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was a brilliant student and a prolific writer of the 18th century, often considered the embodiment of the Age of Enlightenment.
• 🔍 Voltaire's views on religion were complex; he was a deist who believed in a deity useful for social cohesion but was critical of religious intolerance and the Church's power.
• 🎭 His early work, 'La Henriade', focused on religious civil wars and criticized the violence stemming from religious differences, reflecting his aversion to fanaticism.
• 📜 Voltaire's time in England influenced his thoughts greatly, leading to the publication of 'Letters Concerning the English Nation', which praised English culture and Protestantism.
• 🏛️ In 'Letters', Voltaire depicted the Royal Exchange as a symbol of global harmony through trade, contrasting the peaceful coexistence of different religions with the religious strife in France.
• 📈 Voltaire popularized the works of English thinkers like Locke and Newton, making complex ideas accessible and contributing to their widespread recognition.
• 🌍 His novel 'Candide' satirized Optimism and explored the problem of evil, challenging the philosophical notion that all is for the best in a world where suffering is evident.
• 📜 'Candide' introduced enduring phrases into common language, reflecting Voltaire's influence on European Enlightenment and his lasting impact on culture.
• 🏡 Voltaire's later life was marked by advocacy and activism, particularly in his campaign for justice in the case of Jean Calas, highlighting his commitment to religious tolerance.
• ✍️ Known for his wit and style, Voltaire's writing was influential not only for its content but also for its form, with his ability to craft memorable phrases that resonated widely.
• 🌟 Voltaire's legacy is one of promoting liberal values such as freedom of speech, reason, and tolerance, shaping modern debates on these issues.

Q & A

What was François-Marie Arouet's contribution to the 18th century, and why is it sometimes referred to as the Age of Voltaire?

François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire, was a prominent writer, poet, and philosopher during the 18th century, which is often called the Age of Enlightenment. His influential works, advocacy for freedom of speech, and criticism of religious intolerance and fanaticism made him a central figure of the era, hence the reference to it as the Age of Voltaire.

Why did Voltaire change his name from François-Marie Arouet?

Voltaire changed his name to distance himself from his family's legal profession and to establish a new identity as a writer. It was a strategic move that allowed him to gain recognition and eventually become one of the most influential figures of the Enlightenment.

What was Voltaire's stance on religion, and how did he view the role of the Church?

Voltaire was not an atheist; he believed in a deity but advocated for a rational, natural religion or deism, which rejected metaphysical aspects. He saw religion as useful for social cohesion but was critical of the Church, particularly the Catholic Church's dominance and its exploitation of believers for power.

Why did Voltaire choose to publish his work 'La Henriade' in London instead of France?

Voltaire's poem 'La Henriade' was about the French king Henry IV and his conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism, a subject that was sensitive for the Catholic authorities in France. They were not keen on its publication, so Voltaire decided to publish it in London to avoid censorship and potential legal trouble.

What was significant about Voltaire's stay in England, and how did it influence his views?

During his stay in England, Voltaire learned English, interacted with writers and politicians, and developed a deep admiration for English Protestant culture. This experience influenced his views on religious tolerance and the importance of a separation between religion and state, which he later expressed in his works.

What was the reaction of the French authorities to Voltaire's book 'Letters Concerning the English Nation'?

The French authorities were horrified by 'Letters Concerning the English Nation' because it presented a critical view of French culture and politics in comparison to England's. The book was censored, and Voltaire narrowly avoided imprisonment.

How did Voltaire's portrayal of the Royal Exchange in London reflect his views on religion and commerce?

Voltaire's description of the Royal Exchange highlighted the peaceful coexistence of people of different religions in a commercial setting. He suggested that religious differences were trivial compared to the unifying force of trade, and that a plurality of religions could lead to a more peaceful society, contrasting with the dominance of the Catholic Church in France.

What is the significance of Voltaire's popularization of the story about Newton and the apple?

Voltaire's retelling of the anecdote about Isaac Newton and the falling apple helped to simplify and popularize Newton's theory of gravity. This story has become a cultural touchstone, illustrating Voltaire's skill in making complex scientific concepts accessible and memorable to the public.

What is the philosophical theme of Voltaire's most famous work, 'Candide'?

The philosophical theme of 'Candide' is optimism, specifically challenging the Optimism philosophy of Leibniz, which argued that this is the best of all possible worlds despite the presence of evil. Voltaire uses the character Candide to satirize this view through a series of calamities and misfortunes, suggesting a more realistic and critical approach to understanding the world.

How did Voltaire's involvement in the Jean Calas case demonstrate his commitment to fighting religious intolerance?

Voltaire's involvement in the Jean Calas case, where Calas was falsely accused and executed due to religious bias, showcased his commitment to fighting religious intolerance. He used his influence to campaign for Calas's posthumous exoneration and to raise awareness about religious persecution, furthering his legacy as a champion of tolerance and reason.

What is the meaning behind Voltaire's famous phrase 'Ecrasez l’Infâme!' and what does it represent?

Voltaire's phrase 'Ecrasez l’Infâme!' translates to 'Crush the despicable!' and serves as a rallying cry against superstition, intolerance, and irrational behavior. It encapsulates his lifelong fight against these forces and his dedication to promoting reason, tolerance, and freedom of thought.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Early Life and Enlightenment of Voltaire

François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, was born in Paris in 1694. He was a brilliant student and decided at a young age to become a writer, changing his name to Voltaire. The 18th century, often called the Age of Enlightenment, was also known as the Age of Voltaire due to his significant influence. Voltaire was a talented poet and playwright, and his work often focused on the theme of religious intolerance. He was a deist, believing in a rational religion that did not delve into metaphysics. He was critical of religious fanaticism and the power of the Church. His epic poem 'La Henriade' was published in London due to Catholic authorities' disapproval. While in England, Voltaire became fluent in English and admired the Protestant culture, which he later critiqued in his book 'Letters Concerning the English Nation', highlighting the benefits of religious plurality and trade.

05:01

🌟 Voltaire's Candide and Fight for Tolerance

Voltaire's 'Candide', published in 1759, is a satirical novel that critiques the philosophical optimism of Leibniz, which suggests that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The novel's protagonist, Candide, endures various hardships and witnesses the worst of human and natural evils, leading him to question his tutor Pangloss's optimistic views. The book was an immediate success and is considered one of the most widely read works of the European Enlightenment. Voltaire's later years were spent at the Château de Ferney, where he became known as the 'patriarch of Ferney'. He took up public causes, notably the case of Jean Calas, a Protestant merchant wrongly accused of murder. Voltaire's campaign for Calas led to the quashing of the judgment, although Calas had already been executed. This experience underscored for Voltaire the power of public opinion in effecting change. His rallying cry, 'Ecrasez l’Infâme!', encapsulated his lifelong fight against superstition, intolerance, and irrationality.

10:03

📝 Voltaire's Legacy and Impact on Modern Values

Voltaire's legacy is profound, with his name becoming synonymous with liberal values such as freedom of speech, rejection of bigotry, and belief in reason and tolerance. His writing style was influential, and he was known for his wit and memorable phrases, such as 'If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him'. Although often falsely attributed to him, the sentiment 'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it' reflects the tolerant multiculturalism that Voltaire championed. His ideas continue to resonate in contemporary debates on religious toleration, making his legacy both unique and precious.

Keywords

💡Voltaire

Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet, was an 18th-century French writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, his criticism of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. The video script highlights his significance as a central figure of the Enlightenment, often referred to as the 'Age of Voltaire'. His works, such as 'Candide' and 'Letters Concerning the English Nation', are discussed as pivotal in shaping Enlightenment thought.

💡Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. The script emphasizes Voltaire's role in this era, where he challenged traditional authority and emphasized reason, science, and skepticism. His works exemplify the Enlightenment's values of critical thinking and the pursuit of knowledge.

💡Deism

Deism is the belief in a supreme being or creator who does not intervene in the universe after its creation. In the script, Voltaire's religious views are described as deistic, where he posits a 'rational religion' or 'natural religion' that rejects the interference of the Church and metaphysical speculation, aligning with the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and natural law.

💡Religious Intolerance

Religious intolerance is the lack of acceptance or respect for another's religious beliefs and practices. The script discusses Voltaire's opposition to religious intolerance, particularly through his experiences and writings on the French religious civil wars and his campaign for Jean Calas, a victim of religiously motivated injustice. Voltaire's advocacy for religious freedom and tolerance is a central theme in the video.

💡Candide

'Candide' is a satirical novel by Voltaire, published in 1759, which mocks the philosophy of Optimism through the protagonist's journey. The novel is highlighted in the script as a critique of the idea that 'this is the best of all possible worlds', as proposed by Leibniz. The story follows Candide's experiences with war, disaster, and human cruelty, ultimately leading him to question the Optimist philosophy.

💡Optimism

Optimism, in the context of the script, refers to the philosophical concept that we live in the best of all possible worlds, an idea associated with the German philosopher Leibniz. Voltaire's 'Candide' satirizes this notion by showing the protagonist's encounters with various forms of evil and suffering, suggesting that such optimism is naive and inadequate in the face of real-world atrocities.

💡Toleration

Toleration is the practice of allowing or permitting something, even if it is not liked or agreed with. The script describes Voltaire's efforts to promote religious toleration, especially in his work on the Calas case and his broader writings against religious persecution. Voltaire's advocacy for toleration is depicted as a key aspect of his Enlightenment values.

💡Fanaticism

Fanaticism is extreme enthusiasm for or intense devotion to a cause, often with an uncritical and sometimes violent approach. The video script portrays Voltaire's disdain for fanaticism, particularly in the context of religious extremism. His works often target the irrationality and danger of fanatical beliefs, which he saw as contrary to the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and critical thinking.

💡La Henriade

'La Henriade' is an epic poem by Voltaire that narrates the life of King Henry IV of France, focusing on his conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism to secure the throne. The script mentions the poem as an example of Voltaire's early work and his subtle critique of religious intolerance, as he uses historical events to comment on the bloody consequences of such intolerance.

💡Public Opinion

Public opinion refers to the collective view of a group of people, which can influence societal norms and political decisions. The script discusses how Voltaire leveraged public opinion to effect change, particularly in his campaign for justice in the Calas case. His writings aimed to sway public sentiment and apply pressure for reforms, demonstrating the power of the pen in shaping societal attitudes.

Highlights

Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet, was a brilliant student and changed his name to make a mark as a writer.

The 18th century is often referred to as the Age of Voltaire, highlighting his significant cultural impact.

Voltaire's early work, a verse tragedy, was performed at the Comédie-Française when he was only 24.

His epic poem, 'La Henriade', focused on the bloody consequences of religious intolerance.

Voltaire was a deist, believing in a deity useful for social cohesion but not in religious fanaticism.

Voltaire's views on religion were robustly expressed, advocating for natural religion and rationality.

He criticized the Church for exploiting believers and maintaining power, preferring religion without religious institutions.

Voltaire's 'Letters Concerning the English Nation' was a critique of French culture and politics through the lens of English society.

His description of the Royal Exchange in London emphasized the peaceful coexistence of different religions.

Voltaire popularized difficult material, making complex thinkers like Locke and Newton accessible to the public.

The story of Newton and the apple, popularized by Voltaire, became a symbol of the simplicity of scientific discovery.

Candide, Voltaire's best-known work, satirizes the philosophy of Optimism and explores the problem of evil.

Voltaire's character Candide undergoes various trials, questioning the Optimism taught by his tutor Pangloss.

Voltaire's residence at Ferney made him a 'patriarch', where he took up public causes and fought against injustice.

His involvement in the Jean Calas case demonstrated Voltaire's commitment to religious tolerance and justice.

Voltaire's writings, like 'Traité sur la tolérance', had a significant impact on public opinion and legal reforms.

His slogan 'Ecrasez l’Infâme!' encapsulated his lifelong fight against superstition, intolerance, and irrationality.

Voltaire's legacy is profound, influencing modern debates on religious toleration and liberal values.

Despite the misattribution, the quote 'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it' reflects Voltaire's values.

Transcripts

François-Marie Arouet was born in Paris in 1694

His father, a well-established lawyer, sent him to the best school in the capital,

and by all accounts, he was a brilliant student.

The young Arouet, decided at an early age to make his name as a writer,

or rather to remake his name,

as the first thing he did was to change his name to Voltaire.

The 18th century is often referred to as the Age of Reason,

or the Age of Enlightenment,

but sometimes more fairly simply as the Age of Voltaire.

So, changing his name was a good call.

The age of Arouet, which is not of work quite as well.

Voltaire was precociously talented as a poet.

At the age of only 24,

he had his first verse tragedy performed at the Comédie-Française.

By then, he'd already begun work on an epic poem

about the French religious civil wars of the 16th century,

about the French religious civil wars of the 16th century,

by pragmatically converting from Protestantism to Catholicism.

This was to be a subject dear to Voltaire's heart,

For under the guise of writing a national epic,

he was dwelling at length on the bloody consequences of religious intolerance.

Right from the start, Voltaire's views on religion were expressed robustly.

He was not an atheist.

In part, because he thought that some minimal belief in a deity

was useful for social cohesion.

Voltaire's God had created the world,

instilled in us a sense of good and evil and then basically taken a back seat.

This was known as rational religion,

Or in the 18th century called natural religion, or deism.

And it had no truck with metaphysics of any kind.

Voltaire was basically a man of reason,

who loathed fanaticism, idolatry and superstition.

That men can kill each other to defend some bit of religious doctrine,

which they scarcely understand, is something he found repellent.

And he reserved his greatest hatred for the clerics,

who exploited the credulity of believers to maintain their own power base.

Voltaire wanted religion but not the Church.

For obvious reasons, the Catholic authorities

were not keen for Voltaire's poem about Henry IV,

La Henriade, to be published in France.

So Voltaire decided to go and publish it in London instead,

and in 1726, went and traveled to England.

What began as a business trip soon turned, however, into something quite different.

And Voltaire ended up staying in England for some two and a half years.

He learned to speak English fluently, got to know writers and politicians,

and became a great admirer of English Protestant culture.

He decided to write a book about his experience of England.

And the Letters Concerning the English Nation appeared first in English in 1733.

The French authorities were horrified.

The book was censored and Voltaire only narrowly avoided prison.

That's because the book presented an informal portrait of English culture,

In a witty and ironical style looking in turn at religion, politics, science and literature,

in ways that were critical implicitly of French culture and politics.

Here, for example, is how Voltaire presents the Royal Exchange,

a handsome building in the heart of the City of London,

where merchants from across the world would meet to transact business.

"Take a view of the Royal Exchange," Voltaire wrote,

where the representatives of all nations meet for the benefit of mankind.

There the Jew, the Muhammadan and a Christian transact together

as though they all profess the same religion, and give the name of infidel to none but the bankrupts.

There the Presbyterian confides in the Anabaptist, and the Churchman depends on the Quaker’s word.

At the breaking up of this pacific and free assembly,

some will withdraw to the synagogue, and others to take a glass.

This man goes and is baptised in a great tub, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost:

that man has his son’s foreskin cut off,

whilst a set of Hebrew words (quite unintelligible to him) are mumbled over his child.

If one religion only were allowed in England, the government would very possibly become arbitrary;

if there were but two, the people would cut one another’s throats;

but as there as such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace."

Voltaire's message is clear.

Religious differences are trivial and separate men,

while trade is important and brings them together.

His conclusion, that the plurality of religions in England leads to a more peaceful society,

is, of course, a covert criticism of France, where the Catholic Church was so dominant.

The Letters Concerning the English Nation,

also discuss Locke and Newton, thinkers then poorly known in France

The subject-matter might seem challenging, but Voltaire is a past master popularising difficult material.

Ask any schoolchild today what they know about Newton,

and they'll tell you about the apple falling on his head,

and the survival of this anecdote is due entirely to Voltaire.

He heard it from Newton's niece and immediately understood that this simple homely image

was the perfect way of conveying the simplicity of Newton's explanation of the force of gravity.

After Voltaire used the story in his Letters Concerning the English Nation,

everyone remembered it and Voltaire left his mark on English popular culture.

Voltaire struggled with the question of good and evil

the problem at the heart of his best-known work, Candide

which was published in 1759

and was a best seller from the moment it appeared.

Translated into every possible language,

it remains the most widely read work of the European Enlightenment.

It's even left its mark on our language

Expressions like 'pour encourager les autres' to encourage the others

or 'il faut cultiver le jardin', we must cultivate our garden

have entered common usage.

'In the best of all possible worlds', yes, that's another one

speakers of French or English quote Candide, without even realising it.

And that's the sure mark of a classic.

Candide is a timeless work, as satire of the human condition,

but it's also work of the Enlightenment and its philosophical theme is announced in the title:

"Candide" or "Optimism".

The hero of Candide, as his name tells us, is an innocent anti-hero.

He is in thrall to his tutor, Pangloss, who preaches the philosophy of Optimism.

This is not 'optimism' in the modern sense of looking on the bright side.

Optimism, spelled with a capital O and as expounded by the German philosopher, Leibniz,

was an attempt to answer the age-old problem of evil.

Why, if God is good, does he permit the existence of evil in the world?

To which the 18th century Leibnizian Optimist replies,

evil is all part of some greater pattern of good:

'All partial evil, universal good' as the English poet "Pope" put it.

In other words, evil doesn't really exist at all.

It's just something which man imagines because of his limited view of the world.

You might think this sounds like a bit of a confidence trick, Voltaire certainly did,

but this idea did find widespread acceptance in the 18th century.

Candide's great mission was to put this philosophy to the test.

Ejected from his comfortable home in an obscure German castle,

after trying to seduce the Baron's beautiful daughter, Cunégonde,

Voltaire's hero, Candide, undergoes many trials and tribulations:

conscripted into the army, he fights in a war,

then deserts, only to find himself a witness to an earthquake in Lisbon.

Candide is repeatedly brought face to face with evil in its most extreme forms:

moral evil, in the case of the earthquake, where man is not apparently to blame;

and most of all human evil, such as the war, where man is very definitely to blame.

Pangloss's breezy Optimism is clearly an inadequate response to enormities of evil on this scale.

Eventually, even Candide comes to realize this:

to quote from the book, 'And sometimes Pangloss would say to Candide:

After 1760, Voltaire took up residence in the château at Ferney, just outside Geneva.

By now, he was the most famous living writer in Europe,

and he became widely known as the ‘patriarch of Ferney’.

He took up a number of public causes.

In 1761, a Protestant merchant Jean Calas,

was accused of murdering his son and sentenced by the judges of Toulouse

to be tortured and then broken on the wheel.

The legal processes were, to say the least, irregular,

and the suspicions grew that the judges in his Catholic city

had acted with excessive zeal out of religious bigotry.

Voltaire became involved in the case

and mounted an energetic campaign to rehabilitate Calas’ memory

and help the members of his family, who had been left destitute.

He wrote letters to those in authority and published a stream of pamphlets,

culminating in 1763 in his Traité sur la tolérance,

which begins with the historical facts of the Calas case

and broadens out into a history of religious intolerance in European culture.

Voltaire's writings had enormous impact on public opinion,

and eventually the judges in Paris quashed the judgment of the Toulouse court.

Too late to save Calas, but a huge victory for Voltaire,

who had learnt an important lesson

about how change could be brought about through the pressure of public opinion.

Voltaire said of himself that he ‘wrote to act’,

and he wanted his writings to change the way people thought and behaved.

In leading his crusades against fanaticism, he even invented a campaign slogan,

Ecrasez l’Infâme!, which translates roughly as ‘Crush the despicable!’.

L’Infâme stands here for everything that Voltaire hates,

everything that he had spent his life fighting:

superstition, intolerance, irrational behaviour of every kind.

We should never forget that Voltaire was also a brilliant writer,

one of the greatest stylist the French language has ever known.

The power of his ideas had a lot to do with the power of his expression.

Many writers made fun of miracles.

No one did so hilariously as Voltaire.

Always, Voltaire had an ear for the telling phrase:

It's a good line, even in English, and better still in the original French

where it is more memorable because it is a classical alexandrine line in 12 syllables:

Si Dieu n’existait pas, il faudrait l’inventer.

Voltaire's legacy in our present debates about religious toleration remain extremely potent.

Hardly a week passes without an article in the press quoting:

‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’

This rallying cry of tolerant multiculturalism is so potent

that if Voltaire hadn't said it, we would have had to invent it,

which is what happened.

The expression was invented by an English woman in 1906.

No matter, it expresses a truth which is fundamentally important to our culture,

so we have adopted the phrase and decided that Voltaire said it.

Voltaire, his name has become synonymous with a set of liberal values:

freedom of speech, rejection of bigotry and superstition,

belief in reason and tolerance.

It's a unique, and nowadays, extremely precious legacy.