Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet, was a prominent 18th-century French critical philosopher, writer, and Enlightenment thinker. He was a passionate writer known for his wit, satire and critique of the Ancien Régime. His writings, including plays, poems, historical and philosophical works, demonstrated a keen critical spirit of religious fanaticism, social injustice, and social injustice, making him one of the most prominent exponents of the Age of Enlightenment.
Voltaire's time was a turbulent time, with science, philosophy, and culture all undergoing drastic changes. As a wise man who traveled through time and space, he was closely involved in many important events and debates in the European social, cultural and political scene of his time. Through his writings, he ridiculed religious superstition, criticized the collusion between the church and the state, and opposed the indifference and oppression shrouded in feudalism.
His best-known works, The Philosophical Dictionary and The Confessions, epitomize his core ideas and methods of the Enlightenment, including the promotion of reason, free thought, and science. But the world's most famous satirical is Candide, in which he satirizes the philosophy of optimism, war, greed, and human folly through the adventures of the protagonist Gandide.
Voltaire insisted on freedom of speech, believing it to be the cornerstone of all other freedoms. His famous remarks"I disagree with you, but I defend to the death your right to express your views"It is still widely cited today, reflecting the high importance he attaches to freedom of expression. His opposition to the doctrine of the divine right of kings and his critique of religious intolerance demonstrated his unwavering support for freedom of thought and individual expression.
Voltaire not only criticized through his writing, but his life itself was a challenge to the social norms of the time. He was often an enemy for his sharp satire and criticism of power, and endured imprisonment and exile. Yet even in the face of oppression, his work remained widely circulated, and he himself did not stop speaking out. His use of characters and situations in his works to convey his philosophical views has had a profound impact not only on his contemporaries, but also on subsequent generations of thinkers and writers.
Voltaire looked at religion dialectically – he was neither an atheist nor an orthodox believer. He advocated a religion of nature or nature, emphasizing that religion should be based on reason and morality, not authority and superstition. He believed that religion should promote moral progress and human happiness, and opposed immorality in the name of religion.
In addition, Voltaire was a philosopher concerned with social justice, and his desire for the rule of law and justice was demonstrated through his criticism of judicial injustices. The most famous case is his involvement in the case of Jean Calas, in which an unjust Protestant was sentenced to death for wrongfully convicting of killing his son. Voltaire's intervention helped to highlight the miscarriage of justice and the problem of religion.
Through time and space, we can see that the significance of Voltaire's satire and Enlightenment ideas is still very real and far-reaching today. He upheld reason, opposed superstition, advocated individual freedom and social justice, and confronted authority with both mockery and serious dialogue. These are all themes that are still instructive for modern society. Although centuries have passed since Voltaire's time, Voltaire's pursuit of universal values and his efforts for human reason and freedom continue to inspire people in the pursuit of progress and enlightenment around the world. Voltaire's life and his works undoubtedly embody his indomitable spirit expressed through words and his unwavering commitment to a more egalitarian, rational, and free world, showing the outstanding feelings of the intellectual.