The ideas of the French Enlightenment lay in the moral revival of society, which was to rise for rebellion. Outstanding educators were Charles Montesquieu and Voltaire, and later Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Didro.
The ideas of Montesquieu and Voltaire were not the same regarding issues of state and society. However, they became fundamental in the development of a new society. The main idea of Voltaire was different from the views of other representatives of the era.
short biography
Voltaire was born (at birth they gave the name of Francois-Marie Aruet) in Paris (Kingdom of France) on November 21, 1694. His mother was the daughter of a secretary of the criminal court. My father worked as a notary and tax collector. Voltaire did not accept the profession of his father, like himself, so in 1744 he even declared himself the illegitimate son of a poor musketeer composing verses.
In his youth, he studied at a Jesuit college, after which he began to study law. Over time, the young man tired of obeying his father, he began to look for his own path in life. Since 1718, he signed the pseudonym Voltaire, which is an anagram of his full name with the inscription "younger".
During his studies of satire, the poet sat several times in the Bastille. The first time this happened in 1717. The reason for the arrest was an offensive satire against the Duke of Orleans, who was regent of France.
Throughout his life, Voltaire has repeatedly faced the threat of arrest. He was forced to leave France. The philosopher throughout his life lived in England, Prussia, Switzerland. By 1776, he became the richest man in France, which gave him the opportunity to create his "specific principality" in the estate of Ferney.
From his estate, Voltaire, whose political views were monarchical, corresponded with many famous people of that time. These included the heads of powers:
- King of Prussia - Frederick 2.
- Empress of Russia - Catherine 2.
- King of Poland - Stanislav August Poniatowski.
- King of Sweden - Gustav 3.
- King of Denmark - Christian 7.
At the age of 83, the famous enlightener returned to Paris, where he soon died. His remains are stored in the national tomb for prominent people - the Pantheon.
Philosophical ideas of Voltaire
Briefly about Voltaire's philosophy, one could say this - he was a supporter of empiricism. In some of his writings, he promoted the teachings of the English philosopher Locke. At the same time, he was an opponent of the French materialist school.
He published his most important philosophical articles in the Pocket Philosophical Dictionary. In this work, he opposed idealism and religion. Voltaire relied on the scientific knowledge of his time.
Voltaire's basic views on man come down to the fact that everyone should have natural rights:
- freedom
- security;
- equality;
- own.
However, natural rights should be protected by positive laws, since "people are evil." Moreover, many laws of this kind the philosopher recognized as unfair.
Socio-philosophical views
The main idea of Voltaire in the social view is reduced to the need for inequality in society. In his opinion, it should consist of the rich, educated and those who are obliged to work for them. He believed that working people did not need education, because their reasoning could ruin everything.
Voltaire was a supporter of enlightened absolutism. Until the end of his life, he was a monarchist. In his opinion, the monarch should rely on the enlightened part of society in the person of the intelligentsia and philosophers.
Key Ideas About Faith
The main idea of Voltaire regarding the existence of God comes down to the fact that he is a kind of engineer who invented, created and continues to harmonize the system of the universe.
Voltaire opposed atheism. He believed that: “If there were no God, he should have been invented.” This intelligent higher being appears as eternal and necessary. However, the philosopher held the position that the need to prove the existence of God is not through faith, but through reasonable research.
This is because faith is not able to reveal its being. It is built on superstitions and many conflicting things. The only truth in this aspect is the worship of God and his commandments. According to Voltaire, atheism, like theism, contradicts deism with its absurdity.
Political and legal views of Voltaire
The great philosopher did not leave behind himself special works on politics and jurisprudence. However, Voltaire’s political and legal views deserve special attention. All his thoughts about the state, law, law are placed in various works.
In prose, there is a critical attitude of the author, who ridicules and denies the ideological foundations of feudal society. The works are imbued with the spirit of freedom, tolerance and humanism.
Key Views
The philosopher considered the cause of all social evils to be the dominance of ignorance, superstition, and prejudice, which suppressed the mind. All this came from the Church and Catholicism. That is why in his work the enlightener fights with clergy, religious persecution and fanaticism.
The latter, planted by the Church, kills freedom of conscience and speech. And this is the vital principle of any freedom. However, Voltaire did not reject the existence of God and the need for religion.
The main idea of Voltaire was not democratic. Education was not designed for ordinary workers. The philosopher did not honor people with physical labor, so in his idea he did not take them into account. Moreover, he was most afraid of democracy. In this, Voltaire and his political ideas differed from other representatives of that time.
He understood the equality of people only in the political and legal sense. All people must be citizens who are equally dependent on the laws and protected by them. Moreover, he believed that a person’s position in society should depend on whether he possesses property. For example, the right to vote on the public good should only be with the owners, and not with all ordinary people.
In the court case, Voltaire advocated a fair trial, in which lawyers will participate. He did not recognize the torture and wished for their abolition.
In terms of state structure, the philosopher was a supporter of an absolute monarchy with an enlightened ruler at the head. However, he also liked in practice the system of government in England. The constitutional monarchy and the presence of two parties that are able to follow one after another were revered by Voltaire.
As an ideologist, the thinker did not create his own political theory. However, Voltaire's legal views paved the way for the further development of political and legal doctrines. Voltaire's ideas more or less penetrated the views of all French enlighteners.
Human rights activities
It has already been mentioned that Voltaire did not respect the work of his father. However, he still linked his life with legal affairs in the years 1760-1770. So, in 1762, he ran a company to overturn the death penalty sentenced by Protestant Jean Calas. He was accused of killing his own son. Voltaire was able to obtain an acquittal.
Other victims of political and religious persecution, which the enlightener defended, were Sirven, Count de Lally, Chevalier de La Barre. Voltaire's political and legal views were in the fight against the Church and its prejudices.
Voltaire writer
In literature, Voltaire sympathized with the aristocratic 18th century. He is known for his philosophical stories, dramatic works, and poetry. The peculiarity of his works is the simplicity and accessibility of the language, aphorism, satire.
Fiction was not an end in itself for the author, but a means. With her help, he propagated his ideas, protesting against clergy and autocracy, preaching religious tolerance and civil liberty.
Drama
Throughout his life, the author has written 28 classic tragedies, among which he most often distinguishes Oedipus, Zaire, Caesar, Chinese Orphan and others. For a long time he struggled with the emergence of a new drama, but in the end he began to mix together the tragic and the comic.
Under the pressure of the new bourgeois life, Voltaire’s political and legal views changed regarding the theater, he opened the doors of drama to all classes. He realized that it is easier for people to inspire their thoughts with the help of heroes from the lower classes. The author brought to the stage a gardener, a soldier, a simple girl, whose speeches and problems are closer to society. They made a stronger impression and achieved the goal set by the author. Such bourgeois plays include Nanin, The Wasteland, The Senior's Right.
