Philosophes
Background Story? Friends (enemies) in High Places? Core Beliefs? Most Important Writings? - General message of each Lasting Impact/Influence? Epitaph?
Born November 21, 1694 in Paris, France, where he was also educated to become a lawyer, like his father. He remained there until 1726 when he was exiled to England due to his plays and poems that offended the monarch. After six years in England, he eventually spent time in Prussia with the admiration of Frederick the Great. During this period he wrote Letters to the English (1734) which praised the English religious liberty, Parliament, and commercial spirit. Voltarie’s only lasting friend in a high place was Countess Emilie de Chatelet in Lorraine, who was also his lover and with which he wrote Elements of the Philosophy of Newton. Voltaire also briefly spent time in Switzerland but was removed due to his ideas which were in opposition to Calvin’s. Epitaph: “Crush the infamous thing.”/Here lies the literary dictator.
Wrote Candide (1759), a satire attacking war, religious persecution, and superstition. Philosophical Dictionary (1764), showed Biblical inconstancies and corruption in Church; “Crush the infamous thing;” did believe in God but was disenchanted with the establishment of the Catholic Church Moved to Ferney in 1760 and used the town as his testing ground for ideas including draining marshes and a model farm; “Europe’s Inn-Keeper” Pessimistic: aristocracy was a parasite, commoners were ignorant, and the Church was oppressive but supported monarchies Believed in expanding civil rights, specifically fair trials and religious freedom Drank coffee times a day
Background: He was a lawyer, noble of the robe, member of provincial parlement, and a member of the Bordeaux Academy de Science. Friends in High Places: Yes Beliefs: European Lifestyle=irrational, there’s no one perfect government for every country, division of power in government, monarchs should be subject to their own laws. Epitaph: “Tous les hommes, toutes les nations, dans la mort, tombent egale.”
Writings: “The Persian Letters” (1721) Satirized contemporary institutions “Spirit of the Laws” (1748) British constitution=good, represented internal tensions of Enlightenment Lasting effect: idea of separation of power seen in U.S. constitution
From a family of craftsmen who were irritated by the privileged middle class running Geneva. Father read him stories as a child that gave him romantic notions of human life. Francois-Louise De Warens was a noble woman who was paid to convert Calvinists to Catholicism. She took I Rousseau and helped him to find a profession Rousseau was also friends with Diderot until they had a fight over philosophy one night at dinner. Uncorrupted morals prevail in the state of nature. Epitaph:
The more men deviate from nature, the worse off they are. Believed in the social contract. Believed society corrupted the natural goodness in man. Discourse on the Arts and Sciences- arts and sciences corrupt human morality and discussed nature vs. man. Social Contract- theory about the best way to establish a political community in the face of the problems of a commercial society Inspired Robespierre during the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution
Formal education in France Abandoned idea of entering clergy and law school Disowned by father for becoming a writer Married a lower class woman which further distanced him from his father Became friends with Rousseau Promoted optimistic belief that all knowledge could be acquired through scientific experimentation and the exercise of reason. Epitaph: “There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.”
Championed the value and uniqueness of the individual Focused on life on Earth instead of religious afterlife Promoted peace of mind, hostile towards slavery and colonization Created Encyclopedia in 1772 which included ideas on religion, government, philosophy, manufacturing, and agriculture The Encyclopedia is still used today and a great source of information for anyone