On November 21, 1694, a son was born in the family of an official in Paris. The boy was named Francois-Marie Arouet (literary name - Voltaire). He was educated at the Jesuit College. The whole family wanted a legal career for Voltaire, but he took up literature. Francois preferred satire, however, his addictions were not approved by the censors, so he was a frequent guest in prison because of his poems.
Voltaire was freedom-loving, views and ideas were considered bold and daring. He went down in history as a famous philosopher, writer, poet, fighter against obscurantism, fanaticism, and exposer of the Catholic Church.
Voltaire was expelled from France and spent several years in England, where he developed his worldview. When he returned to his native land, he wrote "Philosophical Letters", thanks to which he gained fame. Now many knew who Voltaire was. The ideas of enlightenment, which were seen in the above-mentioned work, were subsequently developed by many in historical and philosophical works.
François criticized the feudal order from the standpoint of rationalism. He wanted freedom for all people. These thoughts were too bold. Voltaire himself understood this. The main ideas of freedom were to depend only on laws, this would be ideal, as he believed.the philosopher himself. However, he did not recognize equality. Voltaire said that there can be no division into rich and poor, this is unattainable. He considered the republic to be the best form of government.
Voltaire wrote both prose and poetry. Let's take a look at his best creations.
Candide
The name translates as "dazzling white". The story is written with bitterness and irony, in it Voltaire reflects on the world of violence, stupidity, prejudice and oppression. To such a terrible place, the philosopher opposed his hero, who has a good heart, and the utopian country - Eldorado, which was a dream and the embodiment of Voltaire's ideals. The work was published illegally, as it was banned in France. This work is a kind of response to the struggle of Europe with the Jesuits. The impetus for its creation was the Lisbon earthquake.
The Virgin of Orleans
This is a poem written by Voltaire. The main ideas (briefly, of course) of the work express the dominant thoughts of the modern era. A subtle and ironic work, saturated with wit, thanks to the elegance of style, influenced the further development of European poetry.
The Story of Charles, King of Sweden
This masterpiece is written about two outstanding monarchs of Europe (Peter the Great and Charles). The work describes the struggle between them. The romanticized biography of the commander King Charles, the hero of Poltava, is vividly and colorfully described by Voltaire. A worthy work that touches the depths of the soul. ATin its time, work brought fame to Voltaire.
The Princess of Babylon
The original work, which was part of the cycle of the philosopher's stories. The main idea: a person is born for happiness, but life is hard, therefore, he has to suffer.
Voltaire: main ideas, briefly about his relationship to God
The philosopher in his work gave a special place to religion. He represented God as reason, to which the laws of nature are subject. Voltaire does not require proof of the existence of the Almighty. He wrote: "Only a madman can deny the existence of God, reason itself believes in his presence." It seems unreasonable to the philosopher that the whole world was formed by itself, without any idea or purpose. He is sure that the very fact of the human mind proves the existence of God, who gave us the ability to think.
Voltaire's philosophical ideas about religion are very doubtful and contradictory, they are more likely blind faith than reason. For example, why prove the existence of God if you write that it does not need confirmation? He also notes that the Lord created the earth and matter, and then, apparently confused in his reasoning, he claims that God and matter exist due to the nature of things.
The philosopher in his writings tells that no school and no arguments will make him doubt his faith. This is how pious Voltaire was. The main ideas in the religious sphere boiled down to the fact that fanatics are much more dangerous than atheists, since the latter do not inflate "bloodydisputes." Voltaire was for faith, but he doubted religion, so he shared them for himself. Atheists, for the most part, are scientists who have gone astray, whose rejection of religion began precisely because of those who are obsessed with it, using faith for non-good, humane purposes.
In his writings, Voltaire justifies atheism, although he writes that it is detrimental to virtue. The philosopher is sure that a society of unbelieving scientists would live happier, guided only by laws and morality, than fanatics who are smitten with madness.
Reason remains with atheists, because fanatics are deprived of it. It was the human ability to think that always stood for Voltaire in the first place. Therefore, the philosopher treats atheism as a lesser evil, while remaining a believer in God, but a person who retains reason. “If God did not exist, then it would be necessary to invent him,” Voltaire said so, briefly this statement reveals the position of the philosopher, the whole necessity of faith.
Ideas about the origin of the world
Voltaire's materialism is not such in the literal sense. The fact is that the philosopher only partially shares this concept. Voltaire in his writings tries to reflect on the topic of matter and comes to the conclusion about its eternity, which coincides with the views of materialists, but Francois-Marie does not share all aspects of their teachings. He also does not consider primary matter, since it was created by God, but empty space is necessary for the existence of the Lord.
Voltaire, whose quotes are filled with wisdom ( The world is finite if there is an emptyspace”), then argues as follows: “It means that matter received its existence from an arbitrary cause.”
Nothing comes from nothing (Voltaire). This man's quotes make you think. According to the views of the philosopher, matter is inert, therefore it is God who moves it. This thought was another proof of the existence of the Lord.
Voltaire's ideas (briefly) his judgments about the soul
The philosopher adhered to the views of materialists in these matters as well. Voltaire denied that people consist of two entities - spirit and matter, which are connected with each other only by the will of God. The philosopher believed that the body, not the soul, is responsible for thoughts, therefore, the latter is mortal. “The ability to feel, remember, fantasize - that is what is called the soul,” Voltaire said very interestingly. His quotes are interesting and worth thinking about.
Is the spirit mortal
The soul of a philosopher has no material structure. He explained this fact by the fact that we do not think constantly (for example, when we sleep). Nor did he believe in the transmigration of souls. After all, if it were so, then by moving, the spirit would be able to save all the accumulated knowledge, thoughts, but this does not happen. But still, the philosopher insists that the soul is given to us by God, like the body. The first, in his opinion, is mortal (he did not prove it).
Is the spirit material
What did Voltaire write on this issue? Thought is not matter, since it does not have properties similar to it,for example, it cannot be divided.
Feelings
Feelings are very important for a philosopher. Voltaire writes that we receive knowledge and ideas from the outside world, and it is feelings that help us in this. Man has no innate principles and ideas. For a better understanding of the world, it is required to use several senses, as Voltaire believed. The main ideas of the philosopher were based on the knowledge of what was available to him. François studied feelings, ideas, the process of thinking. Many people don't even think about these questions. Voltaire tries not only to explain, but also to understand the essence, the mechanism of the origin of feelings and thoughts.
Thoughts about life, principles and structure of life intrigued Voltaire, forced to deepen their knowledge in these areas. The views of this man were very progressive for the time in which he was born. The philosopher believed that life consists of God-given suffering and pleasure. Routine guides people's actions. Few people tend to think about their actions, and even those do it in "special cases." Many actions that seem to be caused by the mind and education often turn out to be only instincts for a person. People on a subconscious level seek pleasure, except, of course, those who are looking for more subtle fun. Voltaire explains all human actions by love for oneself. However, Francois does not call for vice, on the contrary, he considers virtue to be a cure for diseases of conscience. He divides people into two categories:
- Personalities who are in love only with themselves (complete rabble).
- Those who sacrifice their own interestsfor the sake of society.
Man differs from animals in that he uses in life not only instincts, but also morality, pity, law. Such conclusions were made by Voltaire.
The main ideas of the philosopher are simple. Mankind cannot live without rules, because without fear of punishment, society would lose its decent appearance and return to primitiveness. The philosopher still puts faith at the forefront, since the law is powerless against secret crimes, and conscience can stop them, since it is an invisible guard, you can’t hide from it. Voltaire always shared the concepts of faith and religion, without the first he could not imagine the existence of mankind as a whole.
Reign Thoughts
It happens that the laws are imperfect, and the ruler does not live up to expectations and does not fulfill the will of the people. Then the society is to blame, because it allowed it. Worshiping God in the form of a monarch, Voltaire considered stupid, which was very bold for that time. The philosopher said that the creation of the Lord cannot be revered equally with the creator.
That's what Voltaire was like. The main ideas of this man undoubtedly influenced the development of society.
