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# Voltaire

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Voltaire(1694-1788) is the pen-name of French writer and philosopher Francois Marie Arouet.

Voltaire greatly admired English [religious toleration]? and [freedom of speech]?, and saw these as necessary prerequisites for social and political progress. He saw England as a useful model for what he considered to be a backwards France. Voltaire perceived the French bourgeoisie? to be too small and ineffective, the aristocracy? to be parasitic and corrupt, the commoners as ignorant and superstitious, and the church? as a static force only useful as a counterbalance since its "[religious tax]?", or the tithe?, helped to cement a powerbase against the monarchy.

Voltaire despised democracy, which he saw as propagating the idiocy of the masses. To Voltaire only an enlightened monarch, advised by [[philosophés]], could bring about change as it was in the king's rational? interest to improve the power and wealth of France in the world. Voltaire is quoted as saying that he "would rather obey one lion, than 200 rats of (his own) species." Voltaire essentially believed monarchy to be the key to progress and change.

He is best known in this day and age for his satirical novel, Candide?.

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Last edited July 27, 2001 8:32 pm (diff)
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