8th out of 19 books
—
12 voters
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...more
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...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
March 6th 1984
by Penguin Classics
(first published 1764)
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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 abandone...more
Jul 27, 2011
Thieluar
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Interesting read.
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 t...more
I like his exposition in defence of free speech....but sometimes Voltaire did go on and on abit and his "rant" about Shakespeare....well...it was "hardly" unbiased....from a french man....:)
Though of course, he had better dress-sense...back in the days....nobody liked those grotty white english stockings....for men! :P
ceciliawyu.wordpress.com
Though of course, he had better dress-sense...back in the days....nobody liked those grotty white english stockings....for men! :P
ceciliawyu.wordpress.com
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François-Marie Arouet, better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, deist and philosopher known for his wit, philosophical sport, and defense of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade.
Voltaire was a prolific writer, and produced works in almost every literary form, authoring plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works...more
More about Voltaire...
Voltaire was a prolific writer, and produced works in almost every literary form, authoring plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works...more
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“Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.”
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“The best is the enemy of good.”
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