—Voltaire
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Francois Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire) was born on November 21, 1694 in Paris. Voltaire's intelligence, wit and style made him one of France's greatest writers and philosophers.
Young Francois Marie received his education at "Louis-le-Grand," a Jesuit college in Paris where he said he learned nothing but "Latin and the Stupidities." He left school at 17 and soon made friends among the Parisian aristocrats. His humorous verses made him a favorite in society circles. In 1717, his sharp wit got him into trouble with the authorities. He was imprisoned in the Bastille for eleven months for writing a scathing satire of the French government. During his time in prison Francois Marie wrote "Oedipe" which was to become his first theatrical success and adopted his pen name "Voltaire."
In 1726, Voltaire insulted the powerful young nobleman, "Chevalier De Rohan," and was given two options: imprisonment or exile. He chose exile and from 1726 to 1729 lived in England. While in England Voltaire was attracted to the philosophy of John Locke and ideas of mathematician and scientist, Sir Isaac Newton. He studied England's Constitutional Monarchy and its religious tolerance. Voltaire was particularly interested in the philosophical rationalism of the time, and in the study of the natural sciences. After returning to Paris he wrote a book praising English customs and institutions. It was interpreted as criticism of the French government and in 1734, Voltaire was forced to leave Paris again.
At the invitation of his highly-intelligent woman friend, "Marquise du Chatelet," Voltaire moved into her "Chateau de Cirey" near Luneville in eastern France. They studied the natural sciences together for several years. In 1746, Voltaire was voted into the "Academie Francaise." In 1749, after the death of "Marquise du Chatelet" and at the invitation of the King of Prussia, "Frederick the Great," he moved to Potsdam (near Berlin in Germany). In 1753, Voltaire left Potsdam to return to France.
In 1759, Voltaire purchased an estate called "Ferney" near the French-Swiss border where he lived until just before of his death. Ferney soon became the intellectual capital of Europe. Voltaire worked continuously throughout the years, producing a constant flow of books, plays and other publications. He wrote hundreds of letters to his circle of friends. He was always a voice of reason. Voltaire was often an outspoken critic of religious intolerance and persecution.
Voltaire returned to a hero's welcome in Paris at age 83. The excitement of the trip was too much for him and he died in Paris. Because of his criticism of the church Voltaire was denied burial in church ground. He was finally buried at an abbey in Champagne. In 1791 his remains were moved to a resting place at the Pantheon in Paris.
In 1814 a group of "ultras" (a right-wing religious group) stole Voltaire's remains and dumped them in a garbage heap. No one was the wiser for some 50 years. His enormous sarcophagus (opposite Rousseau's) was checked and the remains were gone. (see Orieux, Voltaire, vol. 2 pp. 382-4.) His heart, however, had been removed from his body, and now lies in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. His brain was also removed, but after a series of passings-on over 100 years, disappeared after an auction.
2006-12-13 17:35:32
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answer #1
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answered by laney45 4
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I think you mean Francois Voltaire. His real name was Francois-Marie Arouet. He was born 21 November 1694 in Paris. He was a French enlightenment writer, essayist, deist and philosopher. He believed in the freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial and other civil liberties. He was very influential during his time. I think some of his ideas influenced Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, even though Voltaire did not trust a Democracy and Jefferson believed in Democracy. Volaire died 30 May 1778 in Paris.
2006-12-13 17:42:50
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answer #2
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answered by kepjr100 7
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I want to say "Voltaire the cynical" but I think his real name is "François Marie Arouet". I don't know if 'Francois Voktaire' could be another nickname or translation from another language for the last name maybe "Voktaire".
For Short Summary of Biography:
"(1694–1778) French writer and philosopher. A leading figure in the Enlightenment, he produced a range of literary works embodying his radical spirit and religious ideas. They include Philosophical Letters (1734), Candide (1759), and the Dictionnaire Philosophique (1764)."
2006-12-13 18:33:33
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answer #3
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answered by duncefremen 2
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Francois Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, deist and philosopher. François-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), better known by the pen name Voltaire.
Voltaire was educated by Jesuits at the Collège Louis-le-Grand (1704-11), where he learned Latin and Greek; later in life he became fluent in Italian, Spanish and English. From 1711 to 1713 he studied law. Before devoting himself entirely to writing, Voltaire worked as a secretary to the French ambassador in Holland, where he fell in love with a French refugee named Catherine Olympe Dunoyer.
He wrote a biographical essay of King Charles XII. This essay was the beginning of Voltaire's rejection of religion; he wrote that human life is not destined or controlled by greater beings. The essay won him the position of historian in the king's court.
Voltaire was a prolific writer, and produced works in almost every literary form, authoring plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works, over 20,000 letters and over two thousand books and pamphlets.
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2006-12-13 20:40:09
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answer #4
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answered by Roja 5
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Did you mean Francois Voltaire?
Start here:
http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95nov/voltaire.html
2006-12-13 17:39:33
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answer #5
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answered by Nikolas S 6
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i don't know! some french guy, maybe?
but if you mean Francois VoLtaire (which you probably do). He was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, deist and philosopher.
Read more about him on wikipedia!
2006-12-13 17:35:15
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answer #6
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answered by Babumoshai 4
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Francois Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire) was born on November 21, 1694 in Paris. Voltaire's intelligence, wit and style made him one of France's greatest writers and philosophers.
Young Francois Marie received his education at "Louis-le-Grand," a Jesuit college in Paris where he said he learned nothing but "Latin and the Stupidities." He left school at 17 and soon made friends among the Parisian aristocrats. His humorous verses made him a favorite in society circles. In 1717, his sharp wit got him into trouble with the authorities. He was imprisoned in the Bastille for eleven months for writing a scathing satire of the French government. During his time in prison Francois Marie wrote "Oedipe" which was to become his first theatrical success and adopted his pen name "Voltaire."
In 1726, Voltaire insulted the powerful young nobleman, "Chevalier De Rohan," and was given two options: imprisonment or exile. He chose exile and from 1726 to 1729 lived in England. While in England Voltaire was attracted to the philosophy of John Locke and ideas of mathematician and scientist, Sir Isaac Newton. He studied England's Constitutional Monarchy and its religious tolerance. Voltaire was particularly interested in the philosophical rationalism of the time, and in the study of the natural sciences. After returning to Paris he wrote a book praising English customs and institutions. It was interpreted as criticism of the French government and in 1734, Voltaire was forced to leave Paris again.
At the invitation of his highly-intelligent woman friend, "Marquise du Chatelet," Voltaire moved into her "Chateau de Cirey" near Luneville in eastern France. They studied the natural sciences together for several years. In 1746, Voltaire was voted into the "Academie Francaise." In 1749, after the death of "Marquise du Chatelet" and at the invitation of the King of Prussia, "Frederick the Great," he moved to Potsdam (near Berlin in Germany). In 1753, Voltaire left Potsdam to return to France.
In 1759, Voltaire purchased an estate called "Ferney" near the French-Swiss border where he lived until just before of his death. Ferney soon became the intellectual capital of Europe. Voltaire worked continuously throughout the years, producing a constant flow of books, plays and other publications. He wrote hundreds of letters to his circle of friends. He was always a voice of reason. Voltaire was often an outspoken critic of religious intolerance and persecution.
Voltaire returned to a hero's welcome in Paris at age 83. The excitement of the trip was too much for him and he died in Paris. Because of his criticism of the church Voltaire was denied burial in church ground. He was finally buried at an abbey in Champagne. In 1791 his remains were moved to a resting place at the Pantheon in Paris.
In 1814 a group of "ultras" (right-wing religious) stole Voltaire's remains and dumped them in a garbage heap. No one was the wiser for some 50 years. His enormous sarcophagus (opposite Rousseau's) was checked and the remains were gone. His heart, however, had been removed from his body, and now lies in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. His brain was also removed, but after a series of passings-on over 100 years, disappeared after an auction.
Major Works of Francois Voltaire
- Letters Concerning the English Nation (1733)
- Remarks on Pascal (1733)
- Treatise on Metaphysics (1734)
- Philosophical Letters (1734)
- The Philosophy of Newton (1738)
- Essay on Manners (1754)
- Candide, or the Philosophy of Optimism (1759)
- Treatise on Tolerance (1763)
- Questions on the Encyclopedia (1764)
- Philosophical Dictionary (1764)
Ideas
- All religions of the supernatural are based on ignorance and superstition.
- The natural and human evils in the world cannot be reconciled with the view that this is the best of all possible worlds.
- The order in the universe indicates that there is a Designer, but not necessarily a moral or immoral one.
- People should not be punished for their ideas.
- Although we can have no complete explanations of nature, the best accounts of nature are empirical and materialistic.
- There is a natural basis for ethics and justice.
- The human situation can be improved by eliminating superstition and fanaticism..
2006-12-13 22:37:51
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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A writer in the era of the Enlightenment.
And it is spelled Voltaire?
Go to www.history.com and type that in and get all you need on Voltaire.
2006-12-13 18:13:25
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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