Premium Essay

How Did Voltaire Influence The World

Submitted By
Words 809
Pages 4
Voltaire

Given his notable historical works, Voltaire had a great influence on the world due to his great achievements and simply the way he lived his life. He was widely considered one of France’s greatest enlightenment thinkers and had a busy life in his early years, life after college, and all of his many run ins with the law.
With his beautiful art works, Voltaire had a great effect on the world through his intelligence, wit, and style. He was a brilliant prolific writer and progressive thinker. He produced work in almost every literary form. He was not only a writer, but a philosopher, and historian but he is well known for his connections and work in the theater. Although, the origin of the name Voltaire is unclear, it is a name that …show more content…
He was the youngest youngest of five children but his two oldest brothers died in infancy. When he was only 7 years old, his mother died. Soon after, he became closer to his godfather.
After completing school, Voltaire decided he wanted to become a writer and pursue a career as a poet, against the wishes of his father. His father quickly intervened and sent him to Holland to work for a French ambassador. He got into law school to please his father and began his literary career in secret. He began to show promise as a writer in 1704 while receiving a classical education at the College Louis-le-Grand where he learned to love literature. He wrote in many different genres, excelling at several. His major fell into four categories: poetry, plays, historical works, and philosophical works. All of which moved us. One of Voltaire's best known work was the tragedy play, Oedipus. That of which Voltaire was known for. Many people around the world fell in love with it. It centered in the origin of Rome. Another tragedy play he had written was “Zaire”. From these moments on, he continued to write in tragedies. He was a very important man to the world. Another body of writing also included some notable historical works. “The Age of Louis” (1751) and “Spirit

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Candide: an Analysis of Voltaire's Perspective on Organized Religion.

...Tutorial: 7-8 SS 2104 Sajid Borhan 998931036 Voltaire in his novella Candide portrays the adventures of a young man named Candide as he faces numerous difficulties after he is forced to leave his sheltered life of the court. Voltaire, in his satire, explores many themes. Voltaire being a critic of the Church does not show the religious institutions and the people associated with it in good light, as demonstrated by the various characters in Candide. There are few portrayals of religious characters in a positive tone. This essay will discuss and analyze Voltaire’s view on religion and how he expresses his discontent and negative impression. This essay will discuss the theme of religion as portrayed in the novel and will further reinforce Voltaire’s view on certain aspects with other primary and secondary sources. Religious intolerance was a subject Voltaire dealt with in many of his works, especially Candide. The part where Candide escapes from the Bulgarians and encounters a Protestant man and women who drive Candide away by throwing garbage on him shows religious intolerance and religious zeal, “The orator's wife, putting her head out of the window, and spying a man that doubted whether the Pope was Anti-Christ, poured over him a full.... Oh, heavens! To what excess does religious zeal carry the ladies...” There are many characters present in Candide which are associated with religion; however Voltaire sharply criticises and presents these characters in negative...

Words: 1537 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Candide

...There is evil in the world, but there is also good according to the author who is known for using satires in their writings. Francois Marie Arouet, later known as Voltaire, was born on November 21, 1964. Throughout his life he wrote and published fifty to sixty tragedies and comedies, including one of his most famous, Candide. Voltaire is known as one of the greatest satirist ever. Satire in the Merriam Webster Dictionary is defined as, “biting wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose vice or folly” (M-W). Candide is filled with satire against optimism however; this is a target amongst many other satires. He also satirizes religion, politics, and war. His religious satire is present throughout the entire work. A religious leader involved in sexual activity is a large part of Candide. One of the most obvious examples was when Pangloss apparently contracted a sexually transmitted disease from Paquette. “She had traced the disease back to a Franciscan Friar and traced it to...Christopher Columbus” (Voltaire 21). These men were supposed to have taken a vow of celibacy. Voltaire’s angle here with this satire was that the actions of these men were scandalous and these practices were actually quite common in their time. He felt that if one could not honor the vows he took then why should these people be taken seriously. They were the very men who were supposed to represent their respective churches, and instead they were making a mockery of their religion. Another prime example...

Words: 1237 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

World History

...|compare the political theories of Hobbes and Locke | | |explain how science and philosophy influenced one another during the Enlightenment | | |explain the term enlightened despot, using the model of Frederick II of Prussia | | |Click here for the course glossary | | |Click here for a Timeline of The Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution | | |This lesson discusses European society between 1600 and 1800--an era marked by the power of ideas and rational | | |thinking. The term Scientific Revolution is used to describe the growing acceptance and influence of the scientific| | |method and the belief that reason and inquiry can explain and even change the world. The term Enlightenment is | | |perhaps a more accurate name for this period because it incorporates a variety of intellectual movements that today| | |we do not consider sciences: philosophy, theology, economics, history, and political theory. | | |The word scientist did...

Words: 7624 - Pages: 31

Premium Essay

Historical Events

...CHAPTER 24 TEST QUESTIONS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Luther’s initial stimulus for formulating the Ninety-Five Theses was a. his excommunication from the Roman Catholic church. b. the sale of indulgences. c. his time spent in England during the English Reformation. d. the turmoil caused by having two popes during the Great Schism. e. the influence of John Calvin. 2. The author of the Ninety-Five Theses was a. John Calvin. b. Erasmus. c. Voltaire. d. Martin Luther. e. Henry VIII. 3. The Catholic church dramatically pushed the sale of indulgences in the sixteenth century because of the a. need to match the resurgence of the Byzantine empire. b. threat posed by Islam. c. need for Henry VIII to pay off the national debt. d. expense associated with translating original Greek classics. e. need to raise funds for the construction of St. Peter’s basilica. 4. Which one of the following was not one of Luther’s problems with the Roman Catholic church? a. the selling of indulgences b. pluralism c. absenteeism d. the immense wealth of the Catholic church e. the church’s decision to translate the Bible into vernacular languages 5. Who said, “I cannot and will not recant anything, for it is neither safe nor right to act against one’s conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other.”? a. Martin Luther b. Jesus c. John Calvin d. Sima Qian e. Henry VIII 6. In the centuries following the fall of Rome, the only unifying...

Words: 2581 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

A Woman of Standards

...has no control over her own social situation (257). Literature in the both the Enlightenment and Romantic eras help illuminate these ideas by enforcing a significant emphasis on the role and dress of the properly educated female and how that affects, or cannot affect, their standing in society. Elaborating on his previous point, Rousseau points out that, “everything that characterizes sex should be respected as established by nature” (256). The differences in both temperament and character of men and women would likewise indicate how their education ought to be in a natural balance against each other, specializing in different but similar actions (Rousseau 256). To better reinforce his theory, Rousseau challenges mothers to “try to educate them [their daughters] like men. They will be quite willing. But the more they resemble men the less will be their power over men, and the greater their own subjection” (256). The more womanly a female is, the better off she will be. If she retains her proper role, she can only gain from it but anything outside her sphere of influence will ultimately result in failure. To put it simply, a woman should not find herself in a man’s position. These social roles commonly upheld by the upper class resist any influences to change. Due to the nature of her gender while she is allowed to undertake the same tasks as her male counterpart, any attempt in doing so will result in...

Words: 1664 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Plato and Platipus

...is a social science that has lost influence in the 21st Century because many do not understand how this science can help humans achieve true happiness. Though philosophy is a heavy subject, it is the science with the most results regarding human nature and knowledge. Philosophy offers guidance to understand human behavior as well as to question our presence and our real role in society. It is one of the leading social sciences because many world leaders have tried to grasp it and understand the meaning of it thus showing how important it is to study philosophy. Nevertheless, not only should world leaders study philosophy but also everyone should be aware of the different philosophical teachings in order to differentiate well from wrongdoing. It is no surprise that philosophers understood ethics and politics before others, therefore showing the depth and practicality of philosophy as well as defining academia. Philosophy should not only be considered a social science but also a lifestyle; to better explain, philosophy is applicable in the daily routine as well as in the professional world making it both a theoretical and pragmatic. As a lifestyle, philosophers focused on how philosophy could be applicable to the daily life to improve one’s being. One of the main philosophies, still applicable today, and serves as guide for those looking for a healthier life is Confucianism. This philosophical ideology analyzes ethics, politics and influence, and through his teachings, the philosopher...

Words: 1195 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Dunbar Notes

...Enlightenment intellectuals advocated agricultural improvement, commercial society, expanding consumption, and the application of innovative rational methods to traditional social and economic practices. The spirit of innovation and improvement came to characterize modern Europe and Western society. Politically, the Enlightenment had a direct impact on some rulers--in eastern and central Europe—whose policies came to be known as enlightened absolutism. Section One: Formative Influences of the Enlightenment Section Overview Chief factors that fostered the ideas of the Enlightenment The Newtonian worldview the political stability and commercial prosperity in Great Britain after 1688 the need for administrative and economic reform after the wars of Louis XIV the consolidation of what is known as a print culture Ideas of Newton and Locke Isaac Newton The achievements in science from Copernicus to Newton convinced European thinkers that both the ancient and medieval Christian worlds were incorrect and confused...

Words: 5147 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

John Locke Influence

...John's main sphere of influence was Europe, and the United States. He was very famous and important at the time for England. Maybe even one of the most famous and important people in the world at the time. He also influenced the American, French and Haitian revolutions. John was a philosopher. (someone who thinks a lot about how people think). John Locke has influenced many other leaders too such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. John got his power by being a philosopher. He got a very good education because of his dad having connections to the government. And that is what got him where he was at the time. The way that he used his power was maybe the most central idea in Locke's political way of thinking...

Words: 1159 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

History Is a Lie

...François-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), also known as Voltaire, was a French writer, historian and philosopher who was famous for his political works. All his literary writings were famous, including plays, poems, novels, essays, historical and scientific works. His best-known histories are The Age of Louis XIV (1751), and his Essay on the Customs and the Spirit of the Nations (1756). He broke from the tradition of narrating political and military events, and emphasized traditions, societal history and achievements in the arts and sciences. One of his famous sayings, “History is the lie commonly agreed upon”, is quite contrary as some agree with it while others argue that that is not the case. Based on the analysis and readings I agree with what Voltaire said. Some people associate history with past whereas history is not the same as past. As past is the occurrence of all the events even the minor ones while history is the selection of some events from the past which are then given meaning to by the historians. So what we study is not actually history but historiography (the writings of history). An example of which can be a person selling gingerbread man in a low lying area and some random people come to his stall and beat him up and kill him [1]. So the historians will not give importance to this event – which is definitely part of the past but it is not the part of written history. At the same time history is majorly affected by the involvement of the role...

Words: 1397 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Philosophy Booklet. Short Essays.

...Philosophical concepts By Mashell Chapeyama University of the People Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (2010-2014) Truth and knowledge People have various ways in which they look at things. Some think in ways that are good and others in ways that are bad. Some people look at things differently from others. But who really knows what is true and what is real. Some people stay in the darkness for a long time without have the true knowledge. This essay explores how Socrates looked at things and his beliefs and perception as compared to how Voltaire looked at life. This is a summary of what was captured in Apology, allegory of the cave and the Good Brahmin. These stories have good implication on the essence of philosophy in life. What is philosophy and how should we consider it? In short, these essays talk about enlightenment, which is a process whereby a person comes to know the truth as opposed to being ignorant. Socrates’ views of life are shown in the stories of Apology and allegory of the Cave. The main one that shows Socrates’ ideas is that of the allegory of the caves, which will be explained briefly in this essay. In the allegory of the cave there is a tantalizing scenario. The scenario is as follows. It is shown in a state of things that a young person has been in. The scenario is like that of a person who was born and ever since his youth hood was placed in a cave. In this cave there is no light. This person is chained there in that he is not able...

Words: 7777 - Pages: 32

Free Essay

Philosophy Booklet. Short Essays.

...Philosophical concepts By Mashell Chapeyama University of the People Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (2010-2014) Truth and knowledge People have various ways in which they look at things. Some think in ways that are good and others in ways that are bad. Some people look at things differently from others. But who really knows what is true and what is real. Some people stay in the darkness for a long time without have the true knowledge. This essay explores how Socrates looked at things and his beliefs and perception as compared to how Voltaire looked at life. This is a summary of what was captured in Apology, allegory of the cave and the Good Brahmin. These stories have good implication on the essence of philosophy in life. What is philosophy and how should we consider it? In short, these essays talk about enlightenment, which is a process whereby a person comes to know the truth as opposed to being ignorant. Socrates’ views of life are shown in the stories of Apology and allegory of the Cave. The main one that shows Socrates’ ideas is that of the allegory of the caves, which will be explained briefly in this essay. In the allegory of the cave there is a tantalizing scenario. The scenario is as follows. It is shown in a state of things that a young person has been in. The scenario is like that of a person who was born and ever since his youth hood was placed in a cave. In this cave there is no light. This person is chained there in that he is not able...

Words: 7777 - Pages: 32

Premium Essay

Literal Analysis

...Luis E. Torrijos Oro World Literature II ENG 20200 October 10, 2014 Prof. Hurt Spencer Analysis # 2 Candide Candide is a satire novella written in the year 1750 by the French philosopher Voltaire. It is a story of optimism, which is focused on the life of Candide, and his journey through the outside world that transformed his way of thinking about life. The question for this literary analysis is if Candide gain insight during the story, and my answer is yes. Humanity can relate the life of Candide with real life. I believe that this was the purpose of the story, which is to send everyone a message of how to develop ourselves through life. I believe everything that went through Candide life was happening in order to get him out of his bubble. As we know from the novella, Candide was living in a paradise before he was captured, what happened after he was captured, was a way to show him that the world is not quite what it seems to be. In other words, the bubble in which he was trapped burst, after this he had to learn how things were in the outside world. I can easily relate to Candide in that manner, before coming to the United States I was living in what I would say is my own paradise, everything was done for me, cooking, laundry, and cleaning. After I moved out from my home country and came here to study I started to do everything by myself, the experiences that I have had here have change me. I have become more mature since then, and when the day that I go back...

Words: 794 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Policemen of the World

...The United States has become the dominant force in international relations. It is argued that the United States’ military act as the world’s police. What are two real-life international incidents where the States have used military action abroad? What are two factors that propelled America into a dominant military and diplomatic force after World War II? What are the key differences in American foreign policy before and after World War II? What are the main reasons in the changes of pre- and post-war policy occurred? In what manner does the justifications used for America’s overseas involvement during World War II still play a role in United States military action abroad? What example can be provided of such justifications in action? In what fundamental ways in which the rise of the United States to a world superpower has shaped the country’s responses to domestic spending, Fourth Amendment protections, and Americans’ choice of leaders in Congress and the White House on the home front? These previous topics covers the manner of America’s shift of power occurred and the consequences that the United States faces as a result of this elevated status. What are two real-life international incidents where the States have used military action abroad? In 2011, the United States aided in NATO’s successful intervention in Libya. According to the website of foreign affairs, the United States facilitated the intervention, took its led in cutting off funding to Libya as well as freezing...

Words: 1812 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Why Is the French Revolution Regarded as Such an Important Event in Modern International History?

...Modern society owes much of its origin to a great upheaval in the 18th century, the French Revolution. It was one aspect of a broader pattern of change that, since the Renaissance and Reformation, has set the West on a different path of development from that of the rest of the world. This pattern included the individualism and, in the end, the secularism, that was the Protestant legacy. It also included the rise of science, as a method and as a practice. This culminated in explosive events toward the end of the 18th century. The French Revolution ‘was a phenomenon as awful and irreversible as the first nuclear explosion, and all history has been permanently changed by it.’ The French Revolution is largely regarded as an important event in modern international history because of the way it has had international impact and continued to have international repercussions and influences on society and thought today. This essay will look at different aspects of the French Revolution and discuss how the different components of the revolution have affected the world and the impact of these at the time of the event. For the purposes of this essay the French Revolution will be defined as the insurrection in France that began in 1789 and ended in 1815 with the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. The actual dates of the revolution are widely contested but for the purposes of this essay, these dates will be used as a framework. Modern international will be assumed to mean the...

Words: 1808 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

DBQ: The Scientific Revolution

...the natural world. This took place in Europe mainly northern Italy which influenced the Scientific Revolution. Scientist developed new technology and theories, based on observation, and the natural world. Although scientists faced hardship in terms of government opposition, religious disagreement, and gender stereotype, Scientist created great advances in the 16th and 17th centuries. The government opposition, mainly monarchies in...

Words: 1070 - Pages: 5