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Philosophical Dictionary
Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary is a series of short essays, hortatory and propagandist, over an enormously wide range of subjects.
It was deliberately planned as a revolutionary book and was duly denounced on all sides and described as 'a deplorable monument of the extent to which inteligence and erudition can be abused'. The subjects treated include Abraham, Angel and Anthropophages; Baptism, Beauty and Beasts; Fables, Fraud and Fanaticism; Metempsychosis, Miracles and Moses; all of them exposed to Voltaire's lucid scrutiny, his elegant irony and his passionate love of reason and justice.
It was deliberately planned as a revolutionary book and was duly denounced on all sides and described as 'a deplorable monument of the extent to which inteligence and erudition can be abused'. The subjects treated include Abraham, Angel and Anthropophages; Baptism, Beauty and Beasts; Fables, Fraud and Fanaticism; Metempsychosis, Miracles and Moses; all of them exposed to Voltaire's lucid scrutiny, his elegant irony and his passionate love of reason and justice.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1764
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About the author
Voltaire
9,044books4,765followersComplete works (1880) :
In 1694, Age of Enlightenment leader Francois-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was born in Paris. Jesuit-educated, he began writing clever verses by the age of 12. He launched a lifelong, successful playwriting career in 1718, interrupted by imprisonment in the Bastille. Upon a second imprisonment, in which Francois adopted the pen name Voltaire, he was released after agreeing to move to London. There he wrote Lettres philosophiques (1733), which galvanized French reform. The book also satirized the religious teachings of Rene Descartes and Blaise Pascal, including Pascal's famed "wager" on God. Voltaire wrote: "The interest I have in believing a thing is not a proof of the existence of that thing." Voltaire's French publisher was sent to the Bastille and Voltaire had to escape from Paris again, as judges sentenced the book to be "torn and burned in the Palace." Voltaire spent a calm 16 years with his deistic mistress, Madame du Chatelet, in Lorraine. He met the 27 year old married mother when he was 39. In his memoirs, he wrote: "I found, in 1733, a young woman who thought as I did, and decided to spend several years in the country, cultivating her mind." He dedicated Traite de metaphysique to her. In it the Deist candidly rejected immortality and questioned belief in God. It was not published until the 1780s. Voltaire continued writing amusing but meaty philosophical plays and histories. After the earthquake that leveled Lisbon in 1755, in which 15,000 people perished and another 15,000 were wounded, Voltaire wrote Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne (Poem on the Lisbon Disaster): "But how conceive a God supremely good/ Who heaps his favours on the sons he loves,/ Yet scatters evil with as large a hand?"
Voltaire purchased a chateau in Geneva, where, among other works, he wrote Candide (1759). To avoid Calvinist persecution, Voltaire moved across the border to Ferney, where the wealthy writer lived for 18 years until his death. Voltaire began to openly challenge Christianity, calling it "the infamous thing." He wrote Frederick the Great: "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world." Voltaire ended every letter to friends with "Ecrasez l'infame" (crush the infamy � the Christian religion). His pamphlet, The Sermon on the Fifty (1762) went after transubstantiation, miracles, biblical contradictions, the Jewish religion, and the Christian God. Voltaire wrote that a true god "surely cannot have been born of a girl, nor died on the gibbet, nor be eaten in a piece of dough," or inspired "books, filled with contradictions, madness, and horror." He also published excerpts of Testament of the Abbe Meslier, by an atheist priest, in Holland, which advanced the Enlightenment. Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary was published in 1764 without his name. Although the first edition immediately sold out, Geneva officials, followed by Dutch and Parisian, had the books burned. It was published in 1769 as two large volumes. Voltaire campaigned fiercely against civil atrocities in the name of religion, writing pamphlets and commentaries about the barbaric execution of a Huguenot trader, who was first broken at the wheel, then burned at the stake, in 1762. Voltaire's campaign for justice and restitution ended with a posthumous retrial in 1765, during which 40 Parisian judges declared the defendant innocent. Voltaire urgently tried to save the life of Chevalier de la Barre, a 19 year old sentenced to death for blasphemy for failing to remove his hat during a religious procession. In 1766, Chevalier was beheaded after being tortured, then his body was burned, along with a copy of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. Voltaire's statue at the Pantheon was melted down during Nazi occupation. D. 1778.
Voltaire (1694-1778), pseudónimo de François-
In 1694, Age of Enlightenment leader Francois-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was born in Paris. Jesuit-educated, he began writing clever verses by the age of 12. He launched a lifelong, successful playwriting career in 1718, interrupted by imprisonment in the Bastille. Upon a second imprisonment, in which Francois adopted the pen name Voltaire, he was released after agreeing to move to London. There he wrote Lettres philosophiques (1733), which galvanized French reform. The book also satirized the religious teachings of Rene Descartes and Blaise Pascal, including Pascal's famed "wager" on God. Voltaire wrote: "The interest I have in believing a thing is not a proof of the existence of that thing." Voltaire's French publisher was sent to the Bastille and Voltaire had to escape from Paris again, as judges sentenced the book to be "torn and burned in the Palace." Voltaire spent a calm 16 years with his deistic mistress, Madame du Chatelet, in Lorraine. He met the 27 year old married mother when he was 39. In his memoirs, he wrote: "I found, in 1733, a young woman who thought as I did, and decided to spend several years in the country, cultivating her mind." He dedicated Traite de metaphysique to her. In it the Deist candidly rejected immortality and questioned belief in God. It was not published until the 1780s. Voltaire continued writing amusing but meaty philosophical plays and histories. After the earthquake that leveled Lisbon in 1755, in which 15,000 people perished and another 15,000 were wounded, Voltaire wrote Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne (Poem on the Lisbon Disaster): "But how conceive a God supremely good/ Who heaps his favours on the sons he loves,/ Yet scatters evil with as large a hand?"
Voltaire purchased a chateau in Geneva, where, among other works, he wrote Candide (1759). To avoid Calvinist persecution, Voltaire moved across the border to Ferney, where the wealthy writer lived for 18 years until his death. Voltaire began to openly challenge Christianity, calling it "the infamous thing." He wrote Frederick the Great: "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world." Voltaire ended every letter to friends with "Ecrasez l'infame" (crush the infamy � the Christian religion). His pamphlet, The Sermon on the Fifty (1762) went after transubstantiation, miracles, biblical contradictions, the Jewish religion, and the Christian God. Voltaire wrote that a true god "surely cannot have been born of a girl, nor died on the gibbet, nor be eaten in a piece of dough," or inspired "books, filled with contradictions, madness, and horror." He also published excerpts of Testament of the Abbe Meslier, by an atheist priest, in Holland, which advanced the Enlightenment. Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary was published in 1764 without his name. Although the first edition immediately sold out, Geneva officials, followed by Dutch and Parisian, had the books burned. It was published in 1769 as two large volumes. Voltaire campaigned fiercely against civil atrocities in the name of religion, writing pamphlets and commentaries about the barbaric execution of a Huguenot trader, who was first broken at the wheel, then burned at the stake, in 1762. Voltaire's campaign for justice and restitution ended with a posthumous retrial in 1765, during which 40 Parisian judges declared the defendant innocent. Voltaire urgently tried to save the life of Chevalier de la Barre, a 19 year old sentenced to death for blasphemy for failing to remove his hat during a religious procession. In 1766, Chevalier was beheaded after being tortured, then his body was burned, along with a copy of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. Voltaire's statue at the Pantheon was melted down during Nazi occupation. D. 1778.
Voltaire (1694-1778), pseudónimo de François-
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October 8, 2022
إعلم أن هذا الكتاب قام فولتير بتأليفه في الربع الأخير من القرن الثامن عشر قبيل الثورة الفرنسية بعقدين من الزمان تقريبا. سمح المجتمع حينها بنشره و تداوله و عُد من كتب الصفوة و المستنيرين بل قرأه بعض العوام. فإن أثار ما فيه حفيظتك في القرن الحادي و العشرين فأنت ما زلت تعيش في العصور الوسطى لم تتجاوزها حتى الآن و قد تكون منبوذا من الصفوة في ذلك الحين باعتبار أفكارك ما زالت متخلفة عن ركب حضارتهم.
لا يستلزم هذا الكتاب قراءة متصلة. و لكن من أي موضع يفتحه القارىء سيجد فيه مادة جديرة بالتأمل. إن أكثر الكتب فائدة هي تلك الكتب التي يؤلف القراء أنفسهم نصفها. فهم يتوسعون في الأفكار التي تُقدم بذرتها إليهم. و يصوبون ما يبدو خاطئا. و يعززون بتأملاتهم ما يبدو لهم ضعيفا.
حقا. لا يمكن لهذا الكتاب أن يقرأه إلا أناس مستنيرون. فالإنسان العادي ليس مهيأ لمثل هذه المعرفة. و لن تكون الفلسفة أبدا من نصيبه. أما الذين يقولون إن ثمة حقائق يجب حجبها عن العوام. فليسوا بحاجة إلى التنبيه إلى أن العوام لا يقرأون.
رغم أنه لا يدعو للإلحاد أبدا إلا أن فولتير ربوبي يؤمن بخالق لهذا الكون له صفات الجمال و الكمال و التعالي. يؤمن أيضا بأن كل الأديان تؤدي في النهاية نفس الغرض إن أخذنا منها الجانب الأخلاقي المشترك الذي يمكن تحقيقه أيضا بالفلسفة. يسخر كثيرا من الأديان كافة و خصوصا من تاريخها و طقوسها و بعض عقائدها و أنبيائها.
إذا تجاوزت كل ذلك و تفهمته فقد يكون هذا الكتاب مفيدا لك.
01
إن كانت لديك قضية في محكمة فإن بضائعك و شرفك و حياتك بأكملها تعتمد على تفسير كتاب لم تقرأه أبدا.
02
تحت أي نوع من الطغيان تفضل أن تعيش؟ لا أحد منهما. لكن إن كان عليّ أن أختار. فسأكره طغيان إنسان واحد أقل مما أكره طغيان الجماعة. ستظل للمستبد دائما لحظاته الخيرة. أما جماعة الطغاة فلن تكون لديهم أبدا لحظات طيبة. إذا ألحق بي طاغية ظلما فيمكنني أن أسترضيه عبر خليلته. أو الأب الذي يعترف له. أو خادمه. لكن جماعة من الطغاة الخطرين لا تكون منفتحة لكل الإغواءات. حتى حينما لا تكون ظالمة. تكون قاسية على الأقل. و لا تجود بالنعم.
إن كان لدي مستبد واحد فقط. فأنا بمأمن منه بالوقوف قبالة حائط حينما أراه يمر بالقرب مني. أو بالانحناء. أو بلمس الأرض بجبهتي. و لكن إن كانت هناك جماعة من مائة مستبد. فأنا مهدد بتكرار هذه المراسم مائة مرة في اليوم. و هو أمر مزعج للغاية على المدى الطويل إن لم تكن ركبتا المرء مرنتين.
03
إن كان لديكم ديانتان في بلدكم فستذبح كل منهما الأخرى. و إذا كان لديكم ثلاثين دينا فسيسكنون في سلام.
September 1, 2021
مقتطفات من الكتاب ..
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"كيف أمَكن لإنسان أن يُصبح سيد إنسان آخر؟ بأي نوع مِن السِّحر المُبَهم استطاع أن يُصبح سيد أناس آخرين كثيرين؟
يجب أن نتفق على أن كل الناس قد ولدوا متساوين وأن العنف والمهارة قد صنَعا الأسياد الأولين، وتكفَّلت القوانين
بصنع الآخِرين".
“أعظ� بَلِيَّة يُبتلى بها الأديب، هي غيرة أقرانه، أو كونه ضحية عصبة، أو كونه محتَقرًا من رجال السلطة. ولكن أن يُحاكمه الحمقى. أحيانًا ما يتمادى الحمقى، وخصوصًا حينما يُضاف التعصُّب إلى القصور، وإلى القصور رُوح الانتقام. والمصيبة الكبيرة الأخرى التي يُبتلى بها الأديب هي أنه عادةً ما يكون مستقّلاً. يشتري البورجوازي لنفسه موقعًا صغيرًا، وهناك يُسانده زملاؤه، وإذا عانى إجحافًا يجد من يدافع عنه في الحال. أما الأديب فلا يُنَجد؛ فهو يُشبه سمكة طائرة، إن ارتفعت قليلاً تلتهمها الطيور، وإن غاصت تأُكلها الأسماك�.
“لأنَ� مصلحتهم الخاصة هي إلههم؛ لذلك يُضحون بكل شيء لهذا الوحش الذي يعبدونه؟�.
“لديَ� كرامة وقوة مؤسَّستان على الجهل والسذاجة؛ أسير على رؤوس البشر الذين يخرُّون ساجدين عند قدمَيَّ؛ وإن قاموا وتطَّلعوا إلى وجهي، فسأضيع. يجب أن أوثقهم إلى الأرض بالسلاسل الحديدية�.
“لأ� الطغاة يرتجفون من كلمة الحرية. يستأجرون المتعصبين الذين يصرخون بأعلى أصواتهم: “احترمو� سخافات سيدي، ارتعشوا، وادفعوا وأغلقوا أفواهكم.�.
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"كيف أمَكن لإنسان أن يُصبح سيد إنسان آخر؟ بأي نوع مِن السِّحر المُبَهم استطاع أن يُصبح سيد أناس آخرين كثيرين؟
يجب أن نتفق على أن كل الناس قد ولدوا متساوين وأن العنف والمهارة قد صنَعا الأسياد الأولين، وتكفَّلت القوانين
بصنع الآخِرين".
“أعظ� بَلِيَّة يُبتلى بها الأديب، هي غيرة أقرانه، أو كونه ضحية عصبة، أو كونه محتَقرًا من رجال السلطة. ولكن أن يُحاكمه الحمقى. أحيانًا ما يتمادى الحمقى، وخصوصًا حينما يُضاف التعصُّب إلى القصور، وإلى القصور رُوح الانتقام. والمصيبة الكبيرة الأخرى التي يُبتلى بها الأديب هي أنه عادةً ما يكون مستقّلاً. يشتري البورجوازي لنفسه موقعًا صغيرًا، وهناك يُسانده زملاؤه، وإذا عانى إجحافًا يجد من يدافع عنه في الحال. أما الأديب فلا يُنَجد؛ فهو يُشبه سمكة طائرة، إن ارتفعت قليلاً تلتهمها الطيور، وإن غاصت تأُكلها الأسماك�.
“لأنَ� مصلحتهم الخاصة هي إلههم؛ لذلك يُضحون بكل شيء لهذا الوحش الذي يعبدونه؟�.
“لديَ� كرامة وقوة مؤسَّستان على الجهل والسذاجة؛ أسير على رؤوس البشر الذين يخرُّون ساجدين عند قدمَيَّ؛ وإن قاموا وتطَّلعوا إلى وجهي، فسأضيع. يجب أن أوثقهم إلى الأرض بالسلاسل الحديدية�.
“لأ� الطغاة يرتجفون من كلمة الحرية. يستأجرون المتعصبين الذين يصرخون بأعلى أصواتهم: “احترمو� سخافات سيدي، ارتعشوا، وادفعوا وأغلقوا أفواهكم.�.
March 5, 2020
There is the history of opinions, which is hardly anything but a collection of human errors.
I turned to this book, partly, as an antidote to Henry James’s prose. Where James is convoluted, orotund, and ambiguous, Voltaire is quick, sprightly, and specific. His prose rolls along in a series of witty epigrams that makes for easy reading, no matter the content. No wonder he became so famous.
This book is a kind of personal Գ⳦DZé徱—a series of essays on various topics, arranged alphabetically. Unlike Diderot’s project, however, this work is not meant to inform or instruct; it is a work of propaganda. Voltaire takes every opportunity to argue for his customary opinions, which I doubt will resonate with most contemporary readers. An enemy of religion, Voltaire is nevertheless convinced that a belief in God is necessary. An enemy of tyranny, Voltaire was also very skeptical about the prospects of democracy.
A man of letters rather than a philosopher, Voltaire’s arguments are rather weak and shallow. A master of satire, he is far more effective at making fun at the absurdities of human life than he is in offering anything to replace them. What compels, then, is a wit of historical proportions fired by righteous indignation and a sparkling intelligence. Personally I find it to be refreshing, even if I do not get any concrete ideas or information from the book. Voltaire was a force rather than a thinker; and one enjoys the man present in his writings more than anything that can be abstracted away. That is quite enough for me.
May 27, 2019
Introduction
--Philosophical Dictionary
Chronology
--Philosophical Dictionary
Chronology
August 2, 2017
Aptly described as 'a deplorable monument of the extent to which inteligence and erudition can be abused'. The circumcised selection of topics illustrate how truly limited Voltaire's supposed erudition was. Pick up only if you want to while away empty hours in trains, plotting definitive revolutions.
August 31, 2020
Spassoso, brillante, accattivante, polemico e... superficiale.
February 9, 2016
شاید از عنوان کتاب فکر کنیم با یک دایرةالمعارف حجیم مواجه هستیم ولی این کتاب یا بهتر بگویم کتابچه تنها شامل چهل وسه مقاله کوتاه از ولتر است
در خواندن آثار چنین متفکران چیزی که بیشتر باید مدنظر قرار گیرد تاثیری است که عقاید آن ها بر جامعه خویش و تحولات فکری داشته اند.ولتر از بزگترین متفکران قرن 18 فرنسه است و نظرات او در انقلاب کبیر فرانسه موثر بوده و بسیاری از انقلابیون ارمان ها و اهداف انقلاب خود را از همین کتاب او گرفته اند.مهم ترین نظرات ولتر در مبارزه با خرافات دینی و رها شدن از سلطه کلیسا بر جامعه،اندیشه آزادی خواهی وبرابری است.اما نقطه ثقل مباحث او مبارزه با خرافات جامعه خود است.
اخلاق در موهوم پرستی و رعایت آداب و تکالیف مذهبی نیست و با عقاید دینی هم وجه اشتراکی ندارد.همه میدانند که در عقاید دینی مردم جهان ذ اختلاف فراون هستند.در صورتیکه اخلاق همه کسانی که از حق و انصاف پیروی میکنند همیشه یکسانند.پس اخلاق هم مثل نور یزدان به ما میرسد و خرافات و عقاید باطل ما جز جهل و تاریکی چیز دیگری نیست
مقالات عشق/ازادی /شکنجه/فکر/عیسی/نوح/ابراهیم جالب و قابل توجه بود لیکن مجال ذکر ان نیست تا همینجا هم طولانی شد
در خواندن آثار چنین متفکران چیزی که بیشتر باید مدنظر قرار گیرد تاثیری است که عقاید آن ها بر جامعه خویش و تحولات فکری داشته اند.ولتر از بزگترین متفکران قرن 18 فرنسه است و نظرات او در انقلاب کبیر فرانسه موثر بوده و بسیاری از انقلابیون ارمان ها و اهداف انقلاب خود را از همین کتاب او گرفته اند.مهم ترین نظرات ولتر در مبارزه با خرافات دینی و رها شدن از سلطه کلیسا بر جامعه،اندیشه آزادی خواهی وبرابری است.اما نقطه ثقل مباحث او مبارزه با خرافات جامعه خود است.
اخلاق در موهوم پرستی و رعایت آداب و تکالیف مذهبی نیست و با عقاید دینی هم وجه اشتراکی ندارد.همه میدانند که در عقاید دینی مردم جهان ذ اختلاف فراون هستند.در صورتیکه اخلاق همه کسانی که از حق و انصاف پیروی میکنند همیشه یکسانند.پس اخلاق هم مثل نور یزدان به ما میرسد و خرافات و عقاید باطل ما جز جهل و تاریکی چیز دیگری نیست
مقالات عشق/ازادی /شکنجه/فکر/عیسی/نوح/ابراهیم جالب و قابل توجه بود لیکن مجال ذکر ان نیست تا همینجا هم طولانی شد
July 27, 2011
Wonderful. This book exemplifies everything positive about the enlightenment. Voltaire is clear, crisp, witty and learned. He was a formidable enemy of the establishment, wielding his immense reading, logic and irony like a scalpel, cutting through the obfuscation and bullshit of the aristocracy and church. Nietzsche admired him and he shares his lively, sprightly, literary style, which contrasts with the heavy, ponderous style of most German philosphy. Unfortunately French philosophers abandoned Voltaire as a stylistic influence for Heidegger, abandoning what it was Nietzsche admired about French style in the process.
August 24, 2020
Um compêndio muito interessante. O estilo de Voltaire oscila entre a ironia e o saber enciclopédico. Esta grande suma do pensamento de Voltaire permanece deliciosamente divertida e actual. Que ninguém espere um desfile de termos complexos e encriptados. Aqui não há lugar para dissertações acerca da "metafísica" ou "transcendência". Abundam, antes, considerações sobre o pensamento, as paixões, vícios e virtudes [pessoais e colectivas]. Uma prodigiosa análise moral, estética e metafísica de diversos assuntos. Voltaire tinha uma concepção muito própria acerca do que era a "filosofia". Este grande iluminista permanece como um dos meus favoritos de sempre. �
"...e, como disse um autor conhecido, o catequista anuncia Deus às crianças e Newton o demonstra aos sábios" [ateu, ateísmo]
"...e, como disse um autor conhecido, o catequista anuncia Deus às crianças e Newton o demonstra aos sábios" [ateu, ateísmo]
July 24, 2020
يحتوى الكتاب على خلاصات آراء وتأملات ڤولتيرية واضحة فى موضوعات مختلفة كالدين والزواج و التنجيم والفلسفات المختلفة والخصال الانسانية كالحسد والغرور وحب الترف والشخصيات التاريخية ككرومويل وجان دارك والعديد من الموضوعات المختلفةالثائرة فى عصره وفى كل عصر ولكن طبيعة هذه الافكار تختلف فى عصره التنويرى عن عصرنا ما بعد الحداثى وهو يتناول طبيعتها كذلك فى العصور القديمة ليلحظ قارئه دائماً التطور الذى يشمل طبيعة هذه المواضيع بمرور الزمن .
وهو يسرد هذه الاراء بالتحليل العقلى المنطقى تارة وبالسخرية تارة اخرى أو بالأمثال والقصص القصيرة فى بعض الأحيان فلا ترتبط قراءة موضوع بآخر ولا يحتاج لإيضاح رأيه فى احد الموضوعات لأكثر من عدة سطور او بضع صفحات قليلة على اكثر تقدير مما يجعل الكتاب خفيفا على صدر القارى وعقله وهو كذلك يحمل روح صاحبه المرحة المليئة بالسخرية اللاذعة والفكاهة التى لا تخلو من علم .
وهو يسرد هذه الاراء بالتحليل العقلى المنطقى تارة وبالسخرية تارة اخرى أو بالأمثال والقصص القصيرة فى بعض الأحيان فلا ترتبط قراءة موضوع بآخر ولا يحتاج لإيضاح رأيه فى احد الموضوعات لأكثر من عدة سطور او بضع صفحات قليلة على اكثر تقدير مما يجعل الكتاب خفيفا على صدر القارى وعقله وهو كذلك يحمل روح صاحبه المرحة المليئة بالسخرية اللاذعة والفكاهة التى لا تخلو من علم .
September 18, 2019
رابط التحميل:
May 31, 2013
Il titolo dell'opera mi ha ingannato, sebbene la colpa sia soltanto mia: filosofico mi ha fatto pensare alla logica, all'ontologia, alla gnoseologia, branche della filosofia che mi interessano in misura notevolmente maggiore rispetto alla teologia e alla filosofia della religione; tuttavia, proprio a questi due campi, insieme all'etica (malamente trattata), appartengono la maggior parte delle voci. Così, gli appassionati di religione troveranno moltissimo materiale di loro interesse, scrupolosamente documentato e giustamente intriso di opinioni dell'autore. Le affermazioni sono per lo più esenti da pregiudizi e raggiunte attraverso la sola ragione (proprio come si addice a un illuminista vero), ma non poche volte mi sono trovato in contrasto con Voltaire.
Bisogna comunque tener conto del difficile compito richiesto dall'opera: da una parte, l'autore avrebbe dovuto presentare oggettivamente le voci attraverso una breve sintesi del loro significato e sviluppo storico; dall'altra, egli avrebbe dovuto aggiungere opinioni personali, critiche, ragionamenti in grado di stimolare il lettore alla riflessione. Devo ammettere che, nonostante siano presenti voci in cui la fusione risulta lodevole, nella maggior parte di esse Voltaire fallisce, talvolta dedicandosi a questioni secondarie all'argomento, talora trascurando sviluppi storici e confronti con altri autori e dottrine. Mi riferisco comunque alle voci non teologiche né religiose, dove, al contrario, vi è spesso una buona struttura critica e dimostrativa.
Dunque, tralasciando un pizzico di fastidiosa arroganza voltairiana e un'ironia non sempre ben utilizzata, considerando le numerose voci che avrei preferito saltare dopo le prime righe e quelle che credevo interessanti ma poi non lo sono state, mi sento in dovere di sottolineare che l'opera può rivelarsi molto stimoltante per gli appassionati (o, almeno, per coloro che sono minimamente interessati) di religione. Per tutti gli altri resta un libro passabile.
Bisogna comunque tener conto del difficile compito richiesto dall'opera: da una parte, l'autore avrebbe dovuto presentare oggettivamente le voci attraverso una breve sintesi del loro significato e sviluppo storico; dall'altra, egli avrebbe dovuto aggiungere opinioni personali, critiche, ragionamenti in grado di stimolare il lettore alla riflessione. Devo ammettere che, nonostante siano presenti voci in cui la fusione risulta lodevole, nella maggior parte di esse Voltaire fallisce, talvolta dedicandosi a questioni secondarie all'argomento, talora trascurando sviluppi storici e confronti con altri autori e dottrine. Mi riferisco comunque alle voci non teologiche né religiose, dove, al contrario, vi è spesso una buona struttura critica e dimostrativa.
Dunque, tralasciando un pizzico di fastidiosa arroganza voltairiana e un'ironia non sempre ben utilizzata, considerando le numerose voci che avrei preferito saltare dopo le prime righe e quelle che credevo interessanti ma poi non lo sono state, mi sento in dovere di sottolineare che l'opera può rivelarsi molto stimoltante per gli appassionati (o, almeno, per coloro che sono minimamente interessati) di religione. Per tutti gli altri resta un libro passabile.
April 8, 2022
The last 80 pages I left untouched. After a while it gets boring, esp. if you read this in 2022. I appreciated and was fascinated by Voltaire's erudition. So many eternal truths in this book, eternal truths that look like platitudes, however they should be said more often.
Still...after a while, the discrediting of religions, of the bible; the repeated attacks at the jewish population become a bit boring. Still, you have to respect the tone of arguments he puts on the table to explain his views. Interesting book / review of the whole world until Voltaire.
Still...after a while, the discrediting of religions, of the bible; the repeated attacks at the jewish population become a bit boring. Still, you have to respect the tone of arguments he puts on the table to explain his views. Interesting book / review of the whole world until Voltaire.
June 10, 2016
A great book from the period of enlightenment by a great philosopher who employed the method of critical inquiry to expose the implausibility of widely-held religious doctrines, thus, destroying the illusion that we already comprehend the world perfectly.
He rejects the absurd and wicked claims of the religious and calls for finding answers in the marvels of science and the higher and deeper reaches of literature and for honestly accepting the fact of our ignorance as vital steps toward our acquisition of genuine knowledge in our quest to discover the universal definitions of the key concepts governing human life.
He rejects the absurd and wicked claims of the religious and calls for finding answers in the marvels of science and the higher and deeper reaches of literature and for honestly accepting the fact of our ignorance as vital steps toward our acquisition of genuine knowledge in our quest to discover the universal definitions of the key concepts governing human life.
February 3, 2008
An irreverent look at 18th century intellectualism by one of the masters of satire. Apologetic theology never had it so rough.
September 27, 2014
Peut-etre suffise cette: " La Foi consiste à croire, non ce qui semble vrai, mais ce qui semble faux à notre entendement."
February 22, 2023
Voltaire (birth name Francois-Marie Arouet) was a French writer, historian, philosopher famous for his wit. He was a critic of some Roman Catholic practices, slavery and an advocate of freedom of speech and religion and ‘separation of church and state�. He was born in Paris in 1694 and died in 1778 and is one of the first authors to become renowned and commercially successful internationally.
I always wanted to read works by him (and there are many), so this was a fun intro to his philosophies. I forgot how much I loved philosophy. This POCKET PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY caused a controversial stir when published in 1764.
Each chapter was headlined by a word/topic like LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, CIRCUMCISION, CHINESE CATECHISM, DREAMS, RELIGION, SENSATION, LAWS, etc.; whereby he briefly discussed the topic. Some of the topics were 'a snore' for me. I mean, we cannot be interested in every little thing. Can we? Here are some tidbits that caught my attention in the INTRODUCTION, before starting the book:
INTRODUCTION
In 1764, Voltaire wrote: ‘Opinion rules the world, but in the long run it is the philosophers who shape opinion�.
By early 1760, Voltaire told Madame Du Deffand that he was planning a ‘dictionary of ideas� for the use of respectable people.
“I am and I must be an old author, for you have to live out your destiny until the last moment.�--Voltaire
‘PHILOSOPHY� by which he means reasoned reflection--’brings peace to the soul�.
Voltaire’s dictionary is more of a spoof dictionary than a real encyclopedia. It is a collection of mostly short articles. With each article, the reader has the impression of a fresh start.
A POCKET PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY is a work which is always in movement, not a “finished� work but a work forever in progress. Voltaire is more interested in provoking questions.
‘What can we conclude from all that? You can read and think, YOU CONCLUDE.�
Here are the lines that interested under these specific topics in the dictionary:
LOVE
Human beings have perfected LOVE. Cleanliness and body care increase the pleasure of touch by making the skin more delicate, and attention paid to sexual hygiene increases the sensitivity of the organs and pleasure.
Above all, self-esteem makes every link stronger.
SOCRATIC LOVE
For two or three years a boy often looks as pretty as a girl, thanks to the freshness of his complexion, the color in his cheeks, and the softness of his eyes. If other youths fall in love with him, it is because nature made a mistake; by latching on to the boy who possesses its beauty that are paying homage to the opposite sex, and when the resemblance fades with age, the misunderstanding comes to an end.
SELF-LOVE
Self-Love is a form of self-preservation; it’s similar to the way the species is perpetuated; it’s necessary, it’s precious to us, it gives us pleasure, and it needs to be concealed.
ANGEL
Michael and Gabriel were named for the first time by Daniel, a slave in Nebuchadnezzar's Palace.
In ancient mythology there were Good and Bad...we confirmed that view by accepting that all human beings have a good and a bad angel, the first coming to their assistance, and the other doing them harm, from the moment of their birth to the hour of their death.
ATHEISM
Jews...believe in the existence of an eternal God, they considered him to be continually present among them.
Atheists are for the most part bold but mistaken scholars who reason baldly and who, being incapable of understanding the creation...fall back on the hypothesis of the eternity of things and of necessity.
BEAUTY
To apply the word ‘beauty� to something, it must arouse our admiration and give us pleasure.
Beauty is very often a relative thing.
SOVEREIGN GOOD
People put their ‘good� where they can, and have as much of it as possible, each in their own way.
The greatest good is that which delights you with such force that it leaves you powerless to feel anything else.
A lovely fable by Crantor summoned to the Olympic Games RICHES, PLEASURE, HEALTH and VIRTUE:
Each claimed the apple.
Riches said, “I am the sovereign good because with me everything can be purchased.�
Pleasure said, “The apple is mine because people only want riches to get me.�
Health declared that without her pleasure was impossible and riches useless.
Finally, Virtue stated that she was above the other three because with money, pleasures and good health one can make oneself miserable if one behaves badly.
The apple was awarded to Virtue.
ALL IS GOOD
I don’t like quoting people. It can be quite a ticklish job; you tend to take things out of context and risk getting into all sorts of scrapes.
CHARACTER
Age weakens the character.
CHAIN OF EVENTS
It’s been claimed for a long time that all events are linked together by an invincible destiny; it’s called fate.
Let’s get this straight: every effect obviously has its cause, going back from cause to cause in the abyss of eternity, but not every cause has its effect, down to the very end of time. It’s just the same as in genealogy: every family tree goes back to Adam, as we know, but in every family, there are always people who die without issue.
Every being has a father, but not every being has children.
CIRCUMCISION
The peoples of Cochis, Egypt and Ethiopia are the only ones on earth to have practiced circumcision from time immemorial.
Since the ceremony is a very ancient one in both countries (Ethiopia and Egypt) it is likely that the Ethiopians took it from the Egyptians.
CHINA
The Chinese are still stuck at the point we were at two hundred years ago; that like us they have a thousand ridiculous prejudices; that they believe in charms and in judicial astrology, as we’ve done for ages.
China doctors are not better at curing fatal illnesses than ours are...it’s nature that cures minor illnesses. Four thousand years ago, when we were still illiterate, the Chinese knew all the essential and useful things on which we pride ourselves today.
CHINESE CATECHISM
Confucius: “Live in such a way that when you're at the point of death, you would wish to have lived; treat your neighbor as you’d wish others to treat you.�
Koo: And who says there is another life?
Ku-Su: If in doubt, you should behave as if there were one.
Koo: But what if I’m sure there isn’t?
Ku-Su: I defy you to think that.
The soul is a word invented to express, in an obscure and feeble manner, what makes LIFE tick.
Confucius: “Return acts of kindness with kindness, and never avenge insults.�
THE PRIEST’s CATECHISM
Opinions are what people quarrel about, and they’re man-made.
CHRISTIANITY
“Not everyone has the same gods, but people worship those they believe to be truly divine.�
CRITICISM
‘An excellent critic would be an artist of great taste and learning, and without prejudice or envy. But such a person would be hard to find.�
FATE
A man can have only a certain number of teeth, horses and ideas; and there comes a time when, of necessity, he loses his teeth, his horses and his ideas.
HELL
‘My friend, I don’t believe in eternal damnation (HELL) any more than you do, but it’s better if your maidservant, your tailor and even your procurator do believe in it.�
EZEKIEL
Nature is the same the world over, but customs everywhere different.
FABLES
Among the trees a king had to be chosen. The olive tree was unwilling to stop producing oil, the fig tree figs, the vine grapes, and the other trees their fruit. So, the thistle, which produced nothing useful, was made king, because it had prickles and could do some damage.
FANATICISM
Once fanaticism has infected the brain, the illness is all but incurable...as soon as the illness starts making progress, we have to flee and wait for the air to clear.
IDOLS
The Romans had 12 major deities, six male (JUPITER, NEPTUNE, APOLLO, VULCAN, MARS, MERCURY) and six female (JUNO, VESTA, MINERVA, CERES, VENUS, DIANA).
FLOOD
Faith consists in believing what reason does not believe: that, too, is a miracle.
JOSEPH
The story of Joseph...a hero who offers forgiveness is more touching than one who seeks vengeance.
MATTER
Disputes are like empty chatter round a dinner table: after the meal people always forget what they’ve said and follow wherever their interest and their taste lead.
WICKED
Every individual should be encouraged to bear in mind his dignity as a man or her dignity as a woman.
METAMORPHOSIS
Isn’t it quite natural that all the metamorphoses by which the world is overwhelmed made the Orient, where everything is imagined, imagine that our souls pass from one body to another? An almost imperceptible dot becomes a worm, that worm becomes a butterfly, an acorn is transformed into an oak, an egg into a bird; water becomes could and thunder; wood is changed into fire and ash; everything in nature seems to be metamorphosed in the end.
ONE’s COUNTRY
One’s country is made up of several families; The bigger the country becomes, the less one loves it, because shared love gets steadily weaker. It’s impossible to love tenderly a large family one hardly knows.
RESURRECTION
There have always been arguments about what we have been, what we are, and what we shall be.
SOLOMON
Solomon was a wealthy Jewish leader who never went to war.
DREAMS
How is it that when all the senses are dead during sleep, there is an internal sense that is alive?
All your ideas come to you in your sleep.
SUPERSTITION
Dancing is very pleasurable; it’s good for the body and delights the soul; it does nobody any harm.
TOLERANCE
The prerogative of humanity- let’s forgive each other our follies, that’s the first law of nature.
It’s clear that anyone who persecutes a man because he does not share his opinion, is a monster.
If it’s been said once, it’s been said a thousand times: if there are two religions in your country their adherents will be at each other’s throats; if you have thirty religions they will live in peace.
VIRTUE
What is virtue? Doing good to your neighbor.
Wise individuals do themselves good; virtuous people do good to all of human kind.
I always wanted to read works by him (and there are many), so this was a fun intro to his philosophies. I forgot how much I loved philosophy. This POCKET PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY caused a controversial stir when published in 1764.
Each chapter was headlined by a word/topic like LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, CIRCUMCISION, CHINESE CATECHISM, DREAMS, RELIGION, SENSATION, LAWS, etc.; whereby he briefly discussed the topic. Some of the topics were 'a snore' for me. I mean, we cannot be interested in every little thing. Can we? Here are some tidbits that caught my attention in the INTRODUCTION, before starting the book:
INTRODUCTION
In 1764, Voltaire wrote: ‘Opinion rules the world, but in the long run it is the philosophers who shape opinion�.
By early 1760, Voltaire told Madame Du Deffand that he was planning a ‘dictionary of ideas� for the use of respectable people.
“I am and I must be an old author, for you have to live out your destiny until the last moment.�--Voltaire
‘PHILOSOPHY� by which he means reasoned reflection--’brings peace to the soul�.
Voltaire’s dictionary is more of a spoof dictionary than a real encyclopedia. It is a collection of mostly short articles. With each article, the reader has the impression of a fresh start.
A POCKET PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY is a work which is always in movement, not a “finished� work but a work forever in progress. Voltaire is more interested in provoking questions.
‘What can we conclude from all that? You can read and think, YOU CONCLUDE.�
Here are the lines that interested under these specific topics in the dictionary:
LOVE
Human beings have perfected LOVE. Cleanliness and body care increase the pleasure of touch by making the skin more delicate, and attention paid to sexual hygiene increases the sensitivity of the organs and pleasure.
Above all, self-esteem makes every link stronger.
SOCRATIC LOVE
For two or three years a boy often looks as pretty as a girl, thanks to the freshness of his complexion, the color in his cheeks, and the softness of his eyes. If other youths fall in love with him, it is because nature made a mistake; by latching on to the boy who possesses its beauty that are paying homage to the opposite sex, and when the resemblance fades with age, the misunderstanding comes to an end.
SELF-LOVE
Self-Love is a form of self-preservation; it’s similar to the way the species is perpetuated; it’s necessary, it’s precious to us, it gives us pleasure, and it needs to be concealed.
ANGEL
Michael and Gabriel were named for the first time by Daniel, a slave in Nebuchadnezzar's Palace.
In ancient mythology there were Good and Bad...we confirmed that view by accepting that all human beings have a good and a bad angel, the first coming to their assistance, and the other doing them harm, from the moment of their birth to the hour of their death.
ATHEISM
Jews...believe in the existence of an eternal God, they considered him to be continually present among them.
Atheists are for the most part bold but mistaken scholars who reason baldly and who, being incapable of understanding the creation...fall back on the hypothesis of the eternity of things and of necessity.
BEAUTY
To apply the word ‘beauty� to something, it must arouse our admiration and give us pleasure.
Beauty is very often a relative thing.
SOVEREIGN GOOD
People put their ‘good� where they can, and have as much of it as possible, each in their own way.
The greatest good is that which delights you with such force that it leaves you powerless to feel anything else.
A lovely fable by Crantor summoned to the Olympic Games RICHES, PLEASURE, HEALTH and VIRTUE:
Each claimed the apple.
Riches said, “I am the sovereign good because with me everything can be purchased.�
Pleasure said, “The apple is mine because people only want riches to get me.�
Health declared that without her pleasure was impossible and riches useless.
Finally, Virtue stated that she was above the other three because with money, pleasures and good health one can make oneself miserable if one behaves badly.
The apple was awarded to Virtue.
ALL IS GOOD
I don’t like quoting people. It can be quite a ticklish job; you tend to take things out of context and risk getting into all sorts of scrapes.
CHARACTER
Age weakens the character.
CHAIN OF EVENTS
It’s been claimed for a long time that all events are linked together by an invincible destiny; it’s called fate.
Let’s get this straight: every effect obviously has its cause, going back from cause to cause in the abyss of eternity, but not every cause has its effect, down to the very end of time. It’s just the same as in genealogy: every family tree goes back to Adam, as we know, but in every family, there are always people who die without issue.
Every being has a father, but not every being has children.
CIRCUMCISION
The peoples of Cochis, Egypt and Ethiopia are the only ones on earth to have practiced circumcision from time immemorial.
Since the ceremony is a very ancient one in both countries (Ethiopia and Egypt) it is likely that the Ethiopians took it from the Egyptians.
CHINA
The Chinese are still stuck at the point we were at two hundred years ago; that like us they have a thousand ridiculous prejudices; that they believe in charms and in judicial astrology, as we’ve done for ages.
China doctors are not better at curing fatal illnesses than ours are...it’s nature that cures minor illnesses. Four thousand years ago, when we were still illiterate, the Chinese knew all the essential and useful things on which we pride ourselves today.
CHINESE CATECHISM
Confucius: “Live in such a way that when you're at the point of death, you would wish to have lived; treat your neighbor as you’d wish others to treat you.�
Koo: And who says there is another life?
Ku-Su: If in doubt, you should behave as if there were one.
Koo: But what if I’m sure there isn’t?
Ku-Su: I defy you to think that.
The soul is a word invented to express, in an obscure and feeble manner, what makes LIFE tick.
Confucius: “Return acts of kindness with kindness, and never avenge insults.�
THE PRIEST’s CATECHISM
Opinions are what people quarrel about, and they’re man-made.
CHRISTIANITY
“Not everyone has the same gods, but people worship those they believe to be truly divine.�
CRITICISM
‘An excellent critic would be an artist of great taste and learning, and without prejudice or envy. But such a person would be hard to find.�
FATE
A man can have only a certain number of teeth, horses and ideas; and there comes a time when, of necessity, he loses his teeth, his horses and his ideas.
HELL
‘My friend, I don’t believe in eternal damnation (HELL) any more than you do, but it’s better if your maidservant, your tailor and even your procurator do believe in it.�
EZEKIEL
Nature is the same the world over, but customs everywhere different.
FABLES
Among the trees a king had to be chosen. The olive tree was unwilling to stop producing oil, the fig tree figs, the vine grapes, and the other trees their fruit. So, the thistle, which produced nothing useful, was made king, because it had prickles and could do some damage.
FANATICISM
Once fanaticism has infected the brain, the illness is all but incurable...as soon as the illness starts making progress, we have to flee and wait for the air to clear.
IDOLS
The Romans had 12 major deities, six male (JUPITER, NEPTUNE, APOLLO, VULCAN, MARS, MERCURY) and six female (JUNO, VESTA, MINERVA, CERES, VENUS, DIANA).
FLOOD
Faith consists in believing what reason does not believe: that, too, is a miracle.
JOSEPH
The story of Joseph...a hero who offers forgiveness is more touching than one who seeks vengeance.
MATTER
Disputes are like empty chatter round a dinner table: after the meal people always forget what they’ve said and follow wherever their interest and their taste lead.
WICKED
Every individual should be encouraged to bear in mind his dignity as a man or her dignity as a woman.
METAMORPHOSIS
Isn’t it quite natural that all the metamorphoses by which the world is overwhelmed made the Orient, where everything is imagined, imagine that our souls pass from one body to another? An almost imperceptible dot becomes a worm, that worm becomes a butterfly, an acorn is transformed into an oak, an egg into a bird; water becomes could and thunder; wood is changed into fire and ash; everything in nature seems to be metamorphosed in the end.
ONE’s COUNTRY
One’s country is made up of several families; The bigger the country becomes, the less one loves it, because shared love gets steadily weaker. It’s impossible to love tenderly a large family one hardly knows.
RESURRECTION
There have always been arguments about what we have been, what we are, and what we shall be.
SOLOMON
Solomon was a wealthy Jewish leader who never went to war.
DREAMS
How is it that when all the senses are dead during sleep, there is an internal sense that is alive?
All your ideas come to you in your sleep.
SUPERSTITION
Dancing is very pleasurable; it’s good for the body and delights the soul; it does nobody any harm.
TOLERANCE
The prerogative of humanity- let’s forgive each other our follies, that’s the first law of nature.
It’s clear that anyone who persecutes a man because he does not share his opinion, is a monster.
If it’s been said once, it’s been said a thousand times: if there are two religions in your country their adherents will be at each other’s throats; if you have thirty religions they will live in peace.
VIRTUE
What is virtue? Doing good to your neighbor.
Wise individuals do themselves good; virtuous people do good to all of human kind.
July 12, 2017
Originally published as a response to Diderot's, Encyclopedia, it became a book with its own merits in later editions which is the one that we are familiar with today. Wholly advocating for religious toleration, as the theme in France was the persecution of Protestants and Calvinists, one will find this theme throughout the various essays.
Not quite as illuminative as it was during the enlightenment, there are numerous essays that stood the test of time. Namely the essays: False Minds, Free-will, God, Liberty Sects and others. False Minds is very apropos as societies are fighting the idea of "alternative facts" currently. The next three have the themes as defining what we mean by free will and what it is that we mean when we refer to the Supreme Being. Lastly, Sects, deals with how logic and mathematics have no such thing as a sect as they have truth in their foundation whereas religious sects wage wars arguing over what is true and just.
My favorite essay of the 96 compiled essays has to be Fraud. This is an essays written as a conversation between to learned men. One being a fakir the other a disciple of Confucius. They debate things such as Cartesian Doubt and whether or not we should teach people by deceiving them. Hilarious and enlightening but stood out to me as one of great ones.
This books is jam packed with references - some very obscure, most of them obscure, and some common references. The Wikipedia app on a tablet or phone will be your best friend if you want to get everything you can out of this remarkable book.
Not quite as illuminative as it was during the enlightenment, there are numerous essays that stood the test of time. Namely the essays: False Minds, Free-will, God, Liberty Sects and others. False Minds is very apropos as societies are fighting the idea of "alternative facts" currently. The next three have the themes as defining what we mean by free will and what it is that we mean when we refer to the Supreme Being. Lastly, Sects, deals with how logic and mathematics have no such thing as a sect as they have truth in their foundation whereas religious sects wage wars arguing over what is true and just.
My favorite essay of the 96 compiled essays has to be Fraud. This is an essays written as a conversation between to learned men. One being a fakir the other a disciple of Confucius. They debate things such as Cartesian Doubt and whether or not we should teach people by deceiving them. Hilarious and enlightening but stood out to me as one of great ones.
This books is jam packed with references - some very obscure, most of them obscure, and some common references. The Wikipedia app on a tablet or phone will be your best friend if you want to get everything you can out of this remarkable book.
October 23, 2013
He asks great questions--insightful and preternatural for his time. A complement to Candide on a larger scale of philosophy, but troubling in its contradictions that I am surprised he himself did not catch. Voltaire clearly presents himself as a devoutly religious individual with immense respect for God. He presents now defunct arguments (per evolution and natural selection) about the existence of God as fact based on the beauty of the universe and faculties of man to behave in his environment. The issue is how he can reconcile this belief in tune with his equally pertinent questions of why evil, maladies, disease, famine et al exist in this world with his staunch belief that his God should not allow this if we do live in the best of all possible worlds...
May 19, 2015
As much as I love Candide, and as clever and funny and still relevant as Voltaire often is in this series of rants, something annoys me about it (beyond just the ridiculous antisemitism). Someone said that Voltaire would have been a very prolific blogger today, and this certainly reads like that; unfortunately I can't shake the feeling that Voltaire would have been the sort of smugly self-obsessed blogger who thinks everyone else is completely irrational while his prejudices are perfectly logical, hurls insults and demands civilized discussion, and misquotes Voltaire whenever anyone disagrees with him.
April 4, 2007
Ok so it isn't really a novel, so it's hard to really mean "loved it", because who loves an encyclopedia, right? Wrong! It's a brilliant critical analysis of life during the French Enlightenment - notable entries being "Christianity", "Atheism", "Love", so many more! Do yourself a favor, get it, and then read it over a period of time. It's definitely not something I could read all in one sitting, but maybe a few entries per day. Voltaire's wit and sarcasm really cannot be beat, particularly in this form.
June 26, 2014
One of the most entertaining books I've ever read -- and essential to anyone who wants to live a reasonable life. Voltaire isn't always perfect: his analyses of Biblical figures are half brilliant and half slanderous; but if you want a man committed to the end of all superstition, and the pursuit of human brotherhood and tolerance, Voltaire is your man. Sarcastic, poetic, powerful.
October 1, 2014
hard to write a better review than the ones read in here, but i guess i'll just mention that i had to recommend it to all my 'friends' here in goodreads. it is, imo, a must read for anyone who reads.
Shelved as 'to-read-in-part'
August 17, 2016Historia de las Ideas de la Modernidad. Unidad 4.
Artículos “Ateo�, “Ateísmo�, “Dios�, “Locke�, “Moral�, “Naturaleza�, “Superstición�, “Teísmo�.
Artículos “Ateo�, “Ateísmo�, “Dios�, “Locke�, “Moral�, “Naturaleza�, “Superstición�, “Teísmo�.
October 29, 2021
من السهل انك تلاقي كتب مناسبة لافكارك وتقرها لكن الصعب أنك تكمل كتاب بيعارض افكارك للآخر ♥️
March 1, 2022
The Enlightenment saw the creation of a new way of structuring information in books. The first work to employ this method was the Dictionnaire Historique et Critique (1697) by Pierre Bayle, in which the information is ordered alphabetically. Having witnessed first-hand the popularity and many advantages of this form, Voltaire used this information while preparing the Philosophical Dictionary in 1752, although it was not completed until 1764.
Having had the opportunity to write his Dictionary at a later point in time, Voltaire saw that there were certain problems with previous dictionaries, chiefly that they were all lengthy, and thus very expensive and inaccessible for much of the population. Voltaire sought to create a text which would fit in one's pocket and be affordable because "revolutionary material must be small enough for people to carry with them". What he created is a text which educated and amused at the same time.
Voltaire's motivations for writing the Philosophical Dictionary can be seen as serendipitous. The idea was spawned at a dinner party in the court of Prince Frederick II of Prussia in 1752, during which he and other guests each agreed to write an article and share them the next morning. Voltaire consequently was the only guest to take the game seriously and the idea cascaded to form the Philosophical Dictionary.
The Philosophical Dictionary is structured in alphabetical order. Although this helps readers more easily find articles, this was not meant to be a dictionary or encyclopaedia in the same totalizing way of d'Alembert's project. Voltaire's writing is neither objective nor varied in opinion; the same arguments are made throughout the Philosophical Dictionary.
Having had the opportunity to write his Dictionary at a later point in time, Voltaire saw that there were certain problems with previous dictionaries, chiefly that they were all lengthy, and thus very expensive and inaccessible for much of the population. Voltaire sought to create a text which would fit in one's pocket and be affordable because "revolutionary material must be small enough for people to carry with them". What he created is a text which educated and amused at the same time.
Voltaire's motivations for writing the Philosophical Dictionary can be seen as serendipitous. The idea was spawned at a dinner party in the court of Prince Frederick II of Prussia in 1752, during which he and other guests each agreed to write an article and share them the next morning. Voltaire consequently was the only guest to take the game seriously and the idea cascaded to form the Philosophical Dictionary.
The Philosophical Dictionary is structured in alphabetical order. Although this helps readers more easily find articles, this was not meant to be a dictionary or encyclopaedia in the same totalizing way of d'Alembert's project. Voltaire's writing is neither objective nor varied in opinion; the same arguments are made throughout the Philosophical Dictionary.
June 14, 2024
I can best describe this book as a compilation of Voltaire's essays on various topics, arranged in a (French) alphabetical order, hence the name, 'Dictionary'. His writing is simple, without being overly simplistic, and the generous use of satire and irony makes this a very enjoyable read. Religion, metaphysics, society, ethics, and politics form the core themes of discussion. Again, a very enjoyable read that also offers a glimpse into Voltaire's credo.
January 21, 2025
very solid nearly 4 stars. the best parts were when voltaire actually spoke his truth, these bits were witty, funny, and just really entertaining bits of philosophy. HOWEVER the three stars comes from the fact it was very religiousy and i know that part of voltaires whole stick but like some of it was just religious info dumping and those bits were really boring and i didnt even care. despite this, all the parts were short so thye werent too long. as a whole a pretty good philo book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2022
Voltaire criticizing the church of his day by Biblical and historical analysis.
Didn’t read fully since I’ve read too much church history recently.
What’s amazing is seemingly how well read Voltaire is, hard to imagine how difficult it would’ve been to acquire all of the sources required for a book like this in the 18th century, not even taking into account his exile, during which I believe this book was written.
A lot of intriguing bits, from Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Church Fathers to Ecumenical Councils, there’s a bunch of interesting points.
Didn’t read fully since I’ve read too much church history recently.
What’s amazing is seemingly how well read Voltaire is, hard to imagine how difficult it would’ve been to acquire all of the sources required for a book like this in the 18th century, not even taking into account his exile, during which I believe this book was written.
A lot of intriguing bits, from Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Church Fathers to Ecumenical Councils, there’s a bunch of interesting points.
September 5, 2022
یکی از بهترین کتابهایی که خواندها�. ولتر با هوشمندی به کوتهفکر� مردم میخند� و زیان دین را به سادگی شرح میده�. ولتر اندیشمند درجه یکی بود که فرانسه، اروپا و جهان را به پیش برد. افسوس که مرحوم فلسفی شاید از ترس جانش کتاب را با قیچی بخشهای زیادی ترجمه کرده است.
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