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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
the entries in this dictionary were very enlightening and I have to say I had to revise a number of incorrect beliefs which I had,besides it was a very cleverly constructed book and I can understand why it must have been a revolutionary read for its time..Merci Voltaire!
This book has definitions of all life fragments: Life itself, marriage, friendship, everything. I simply love this dictionary! And the most favorite is when Voltaire depicting about AUTHOR. A simply must read!
Peut-etre suffise cette: " La Foi consiste à croire, non ce qui semble vrai, mais ce qui semble faux à notre entendement."
This book helped to direct and define my career as scholar, historian, teacher, techie, and modern pagan.
Out with old, in with the new. The clashing of ages. This book could have been written yesterday.
Jul 27, 2011
Thieluar
added it
Interesting read.
Hilarious!
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
I'd made it through a half of this book and then I decide I have better things to do. Better books to read. Better philosophers to agree with.
An irreverent look at 18th century intellectualism by one of the masters of satire. Apologetic theology never had it so rough.
Dissertazioni filosofiche, tra il serio ed il faceto, che racchiudono la summa di un grande intellettuale del passato.
Nobody can upgrade to elite group of society before he think as Philosophical Dictionary
I loved what I understood. Especially the bit about the Flood.
May 24, 2013
Mark Schoonover
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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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