About
François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, is a major figure of the French Enlightenment. A playwright, poet, historian, and philosopher, he left his mark on his era with his critical spirit and commitment to tolerance. His immense work includes plays, philosophical tales, historical essays, and pamphlets. He helped spread the ideas of Newton and Locke in France. His fight in the Calas affair became a symbol of the struggle against intolerance. Settled in Ferney, he made his residence a European intellectual center.
* 1694-11-21 — † 1778-05-28
Major works
- Œdipe (1718)tragedy
- Lettres philosophiques (1733)essay
- Zadig (1747)philosophical tale
- Candide, ou L'optimisme (1759)philosophical tale
- Traité sur la tolérance (1763)essay
Key milestones
- 1746Elected to the Académie française.
- 1762-1765Leads a public campaign in the Calas affair, obtaining the rehabilitation of a Protestant wrongly executed.
- 1791His remains are transferred to the Panthéon in Paris.
Themes
ToleranceFreedom of thoughtCritique of optimismJusticeReason
Sources: voltaire.ox.ac.uk · voltaire.ox.ac.uk · britannica.com