What do you really think of Voltaire and his philosophy?

[Julie07]

[Zack-Bann]

I think everyone is a product of their own time but some people attempt to shift the tide of the future with ideas no one else was saying.


Voltaire lived in a time of oppression, through religion, social ranking, systemic oppression…


His “philosophy” was a simple suggestion for an alternative future
One where people get to make choices but also have to live with their consequences.


Instead of controlling people’s actions and thoughts like a flock of sheep, we let them make their own choices.
Some rise, some fall.


I personally approve of this approach in its most basic form.
The only issue is that the world has perverted this philosophy all while claiming to uphold it.


Take a look at France, Voltaire’s own country.
It’s founded on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
And yet people are not really free, they still live predetermined lives
They are not equal. We still have rich and poor with birthright playing a large part in how far a person can go.
And there is no fraternity. People only care about themselves. No one is anyone’s “brother”


So Voltaire only managed to influence a reshuffling of the deck.
Traded on kind of king for another kind of king
But regardless of that, the people still lead a struggling life of oppression

[Julie07]

However imperfect it may be, I think it is easier to fight against oppression in France, and under better conditions, than in Lebanon, for example

[indissoluble]

He was mentally retarded like most left-wingers. He demanded religious tolerance while screaming crush religion (specifically Christianity). He claimed reason as the only true guide to human progress, yet subscribed to deism and had no logical foundation or evidence for his belief system. He claimed to advocate for civil liberties, but pushed the french enlightenment (Satanism) that whole sale slaughtered Christians in a genocide. He claimed to be am empiricist, but speculated on a "watchmaker" creator. He demanded justice reform was claiming people he liked were unfairly executed, but his ideas spurred the malicious slaughter of Christian clergy with no foundation in justice. In other words he was a moronic, hypocritical, homosexual that stood on nothing. He was a typical Muslim Freemason who followed the religion of Yes/No. Talk out of both sides of your mouth with a forked tongue to emotionally manipulate the dumbest of society and kill anyone that challenges your bid for power with logical thinking.

[indissoluble]

*an...

[indissoluble]

He was a gross low life piece of shit with no redeeming values.

[NaultD]

One must cultivate the garden. If you are sharing a garden with death cultist like the modern evangelical church who only grow death... you see the problem now.

I 100% and respect day to day people are to judge and make the path but philosophy is what makes the long term map. It's disastrous when dooms day cultist begging for Armageddon and to be rise up as angels.

Even the more secular technology front are betting on global warming destroying our world and escaping into space travel for a life time of epstein island activity's. Free of any global long term consequences.

[NaultD]

To question his philosophy joe rogan and Tucker are the "philosophers" of our time right now. He's correct in the worst way possible to be honest.

[beefcakebradybatson]

"TUCKER?" Hopefully not F**ker Carlson!!!"

[loveslongnails]

Voltaire was spot on, especially when he said:
“Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

That's exactly what's happening in the USA today with the Trump cult and his corrupt backers and followers. By controlling the media, they convince ignorant people of all kinds of stupidly absurd shit, like the immigrant situation, and you end up with atrocities like the concentration camps posing as detention centers.

The real atrocities are the behaviors of ICE agents, and the conditions inside these facilities, and that they are privately owned by friends of the administration for the most part, paid for by our tax dollars. So Voltaire was 100% correct.

[RavVid]

Lately I have become concerned with hedonism so I'm not happy with that aspect. Other aspects on superstition in religion I'd think irrelevant now. His thought on liberty can scarcely be criticized.

Over all I am not well read enough on voltaire

[Julie07]

Look at what Voltaire wrote to Jean-Jacques Rousseau — Rousseau, the author who wrote The Social Contract, where he argued that man was naturally good and had been corrupted by society.

Here is Voltaire’s statement about him:

‘I have received, Sir, your new book against the human race, and I thank you for it. You will please the men to whom you tell their truths, though you will not correct them. You paint, in very true colors, the horrors of human society, from which ignorance and weakness nevertheless expect so many comforts.

Never has so much wit been used in an attempt to make us beasts again. Reading your work makes one want to walk on all fours. However, since it has been more than sixty years since I lost the habit, I unfortunately feel it is impossible for me to take it up again.
And so I leave this natural gait to those more worthy of it than you and me.

Nor can I set sail to join the savages of Canada, firstly because the illnesses to which I am condemned make a European doctor necessary for me, and secondly because war has spread to that country, and the example of our nations has made the savages almost as wicked as ourselves.

I therefore confine myself to being a peaceful savage in the solitude I have chosen near your homeland, where you yourself ought to be. I admit, along with you, that literature and the sciences have sometimes caused a great deal of harm.’”

[RavVid]

A very fine, scalpel like dissection. I had read that along my travels but along my way I have forgotten it.

There is nothing in that which I could disagree with.

[Julie07]

Voltaire was a master of words; it was very difficult to win an argument against him. He always had just the right words to make you look foolish.

[RavVid]

Yes indeed. In the passage the walking on all fours jibe was masterful. Swift came to mind as I was reading.

Not surprising it became bitter between them.

[MrChinaski]

I'm not sure he had a philosophy in any positive sense. He just pointed out the idiocy and injustice of the world into which he was born in a lucid and entertaining manner. I thank him for doing so.

[NathanDavis]

since I've answered this question from you about four times already... I'll go different this time

what a loser this dude...

[Levin]

I've only read Candide and I didn't enjoy it.

[Iron_Man]

You’ll have to be my teacher, Julie and teach me about all these things from your country than I’ll give you my personal opinion and I do have great opinions

[exitseven]

I really was sort of a fan of Voltaire when I was in high school.

[Shrimpenjoyer]

He was quite the interesting person especially for the time he lived in.

Though I vaguely know his ideas

[Anonymous]

That victory does not belong to the big battalion but to the best shots

[RyanEC]

I respect him and his ideas.

[strateguy632]

His hedonism is bad.

[Sevenpointfive]

i remember liking him. i can't remember why

[Staximus]

I haven’t read much Voltaire

[msc545]

I enjoy Voltaire and his works.

[HairF3tish]

I dont know what is his philosophy