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Voltaire

            
             Voltaire's wit and intelligence made him one of France's greatest writers and philosophers. His writings are full of Enlightenment values and principles. L'Ingenu, written in 1767, reflects his views about individual freedom and people making their own way in the world. Voltaire is open to a society that is open to individual talent and merit for deciding social standing, and not a society that determines it by birth. He has reflected these attitudes throughout the story of L'Ingenu.
             Voltaire wrote L'Ingenu during a time when rationality and reason were being introduced into society. Whitty conversation and intelligent thinking began to take place. With this type of conversation one could made a mark in society and develop themselves as an individual. The Enlightenment was a period when people began to "come of the dark."" Medieval times were fast ending and with the help of new philosophers the world was now taking on some modern and alternative views. Ignorance was something they were trying to get rid of and being educated was seen as an important task. Education was now something for everyone, not just the wealthy anymore. They were becoming aware of the world around them and few at a time began to think about it now as not being controlled by God but by natural forces. Perhaps one of the most controversial topics of the time was religion. As people became educated, their views about God began to change. Atheism and the belief that there was no God began and showed the radical new way of thinking.
             Voltaire attacks religion and views it as a negative thing throughout L'Ingenu. The old view of religion was that God was divine and ruled the world. Most thought that God made everything happen and for a reason. During the beginning of the 1700s a new view began partly because of education. People began to believe that god created the world and then left it alone for natural forces and laws to occur.


Essays Related to Voltaire

1. Voltaire and Candide

Voltaire's thought on war reflect his liberal thought on thinkers, like philosophers who preceded him; Voltaire contributions to the enlightenment age does not depend on his originality or lack of it. ... Voltaire's views on war were given wide circulation both in France and in the rest of Europe. The notebook of Voltaire with his indications of war with ideas in 1755, in France Voltaire was known as the greatest living dramatist. In his notebook, Voltaire was viewed as artistic with his writings; "L'art de 1a guerre eS.t comme ce1ui de la medecine, meurtrier et conjectural " ( ...

  • Word Count: 511
  • Approx Pages: 2

2. Candide by Voltaire

Candide, written by Voltaire, is a masterpiece which uses satire heavily to influence the reader. Through the novel, Voltaire points out flaws in society and their consequences. Voltaire criticizes everyone he speaks out against, without fear of rebuke. ... This theory basically states no evil exists in the world, which to Voltaire was not true. ... Voltaire, wishes to bring attention to the unnecessary violence in the world. ...

  • Word Count: 941
  • Approx Pages: 4

3. Voltaire

Voltaire's "Candide" The eighteenth century novel written by Voltaire, Candide, was one of the greatest works of arguably the most important philosopher during the Enlightenment. ... (Voltaire, 19) Candide spends much of the story in search of the Lady Cunegonde, who as the daughter of a Baron. ... (Voltaire, 82) Instead of remaining there, he left to continue his search for Cunegonde and regrets this greatly. In the novel, Voltaire uses the character of Dr. ... (Voltaire, 35). ...

  • Word Count: 976
  • Approx Pages: 4

4. Voltaire v. Rousseau

Voltaire and Rousseau are two of the most famous great French philosophies, however they never shared their greatness, they practically hated each other. ... Voltaire's Candide is an example of Voltaire's view on education. ... Voltaire criticize this by saying if this is the best of all possible worlds, then why should any one try to alleviate suffering? ... Voltaire characterizes the Oreillons as representatives of "pure nature" several times. ... He opposed the theater which was Voltaire's true passion, shunned the aristocracy which Voltaire courted. ...

  • Word Count: 614
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Swift And Voltaire

Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and "Candide," by Voltaire are both satires that mock man and society. ... "Candide" by Voltaire, is targeted to the upper class as well. ... Voltaire makes historical references as well as geographical, that mostly (at that time) the upper class educated would understand. Voltaire also makes personal attacks on publishers and others, which only people in his circle would know. Importantly, Voltaire illustrates the arrogance, pride and vanity of the upper class. ...

  • Word Count: 471
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Book Review - Candide by Voltaire

Voltaire is a very well known writer and philosopher from 18th Century France. In the year of 1759, Voltaire wrote one of his most famous satires, Candide. ... Voltaire wrote Candide, during a time of much poverty and turmoil in France. ... Another way Voltaire benefits from historically accuracy is that the people who read Voltaire's work could further relate to the events. ... " through this quote, Voltaire personally rejects the idea of optimism. ...

  • Word Count: 540
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Voltaire on Gender

In Candide Voltaire discusses the exploitation of the female race in the eighteenth century through the women in the novel. ... With his characterization of Cunegonde, Paquette, and the Old Woman Voltaire satirizes gender roles and highlights the impotence of women in the 1800s. ... She is described as "extremely beautiful " (Voltaire. 5) and is repeatedly referred to as "the fair Cunegonde. " (39). ... However, Voltaire does not blame her foolish naiveté on her femininity. ... The women of Voltaire's Candide emphasize the exploitation of females in the 1800s. ...

  • Word Count: 1038
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Voltaire

Voltaire was charming and witty, yet pessimistic and cynical. ... As a child Voltaire was frail and sickly. ... Many works have influenced Voltaire. ... Voltaire considered himself to be a theist. ... Voltaire simply believed in God. ...

  • Word Count: 1342
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Latent Anti-Semitism of Candide

I don't feel that this statement is justified enough in the paper solely based upon Voltaire's Candide alone. ... However, I do realize that the paper refers to several writers who backed up the author's notion that Voltaire was anti-Semitic but in reading through their quotes they refer not to references from Candide that make them think this but to Voltaire and his beliefs on Jews in general, probably from his other works and not just Candide. ... Also, the paper mentions Voltaire's biographer, Peter Gay, writing a section devoted to Voltaire's anti-Semitism bu...

  • Word Count: 374
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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