Who is Voltaire?
Francois-Marie Arouet, or better known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French philosopher and writer. He was part of the group of Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century. Voltaire wrote many books, such as Candide and the Treatise on Tolerance. He also wrote thousands of letters to figures all over Europe. Let’s delve into what Voltaire’s beliefs are.
Human Agency
There are two opposite ends of a spectrum: determinism and total free will. Voltaire’s philosophy lies somewhere in between. Voltaire believes that humans were not made just to operate as part of a universal scheme of events. We do have some form of individual free will, which can be claimed from self knowledge and reason. This free will allows us to be active and responsible beings in society, instead of passively accepting things for what they are.
Thoughts on Religion
Voltaire is well known for his belief in religious tolerance. He detested how much power the church and the clergy had, and the religious fanaticism of the Jesuits. He disapproved of the French wars of religion in the 16th century, which he thought were unnecessarily violent battles defending trivial religious doctrines, and commended Henri IV for his policies on religious tolerance. Voltaire believed that even if there was a God, that God was distant, not really involved in the struggles of the human.
“Cultivate Your Own Garden”
At the end of Voltaire’s novel Candide is the line “we must cultivate our own garden.” This means that we need to occupy ourselves with a goal or project that is fulfilling to ourselves. This prevents us from agonizing over other external forces, such as political talk, global issues, etc. We keep ourselves occupied, which brings peace of mind. Working on the “garden,” whatever that may be for each individual, should give us meaning and satisfaction.
Quotes
“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”
“Man is free the moment he wishes to be.”
“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.”
“Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.”
“Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.”
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