Voltaire states:“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I 'll defend to the death your right to say it”. Francois-Marie Arouet was a philosopher and writer, who went by the self proclaimed stage name of “Voltaire”. Voltaire wrote poetry, essays, historical and scientific works, and more than 20,000 letters, which are regarded as some of the greatest achievements in French literature. Voltaire also wrote 2,000 books, most of which expressed his beliefs and ideas about civil liberties and personal freedoms, which included freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of trade. Voltaire believed that all men should be treated equally and have personal freedoms, but he also had many diverse ideas about religion. He
…show more content…
Some people believe that Voltaire did not come up with his own ideas, he just wrote down the ideas of others, so he cannot be thought of as an original enlightenment philosopher at all. Some also have the opinion that all he did was write down the idea of “unalienable rights” that John Locke originally stated as his own original enlightenment philosophy. Researchers at the University of Oxford argue that “Voltaire’s contribution to the history of enlightenment philosophy is minimal, and he cannot be considered an original thinker”(Cronk ). In making this comment, these researchers are arguing that Voltaire was not in fact an original enlightenment philosopher. Although some people may believe that a few of Voltaire 's enlightenment philosophies are not original and are repeats of other philosophers such as John Locke, this idea is invalid because although John Locke argued for “natural rights”, he was stating completely different ideas than Voltaire was. John Locke fought for natural rights, he was arguing for men to be able to have the unalienable right to life, liberty and property. Voltaire was fighting for a whole different set of freedoms which included freedom of religion, speech, and assembly, none of which were stated in any of John Locke’s philosophies. While it is true that Voltaire and other philosophers all fought for certain freedoms that may have been similar, Voltaire was in fact an original philosopher because even if some of his ideas were remotely alike other philosophers ideas, he still was the only man who fought for specific personal
Some people believe that Voltaire did not come up with his own ideas, he just wrote down the ideas of others, so he cannot be thought of as an original enlightenment philosopher at all. Some also have the opinion that all he did was write down the idea of “unalienable rights” that John Locke originally stated as his own original enlightenment philosophy. Researchers at the University of Oxford argue that “Voltaire’s contribution to the history of enlightenment philosophy is minimal, and he cannot be considered an original thinker”(Cronk ). In making this comment, these researchers are arguing that Voltaire was not in fact an original enlightenment philosopher. Although some people may believe that a few of Voltaire 's enlightenment philosophies are not original and are repeats of other philosophers such as John Locke, this idea is invalid because although John Locke argued for “natural rights”, he was stating completely different ideas than Voltaire was. John Locke fought for natural rights, he was arguing for men to be able to have the unalienable right to life, liberty and property. Voltaire was fighting for a whole different set of freedoms which included freedom of religion, speech, and assembly, none of which were stated in any of John Locke’s philosophies. While it is true that Voltaire and other philosophers all fought for certain freedoms that may have been similar, Voltaire was in fact an original philosopher because even if some of his ideas were remotely alike other philosophers ideas, he still was the only man who fought for specific personal