The Ignorant Philosopher

Voltaire

tammi 1922 · Newcomb Livraria Press

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A new translation directly from the original French manuscript of Voltaire's 1766 The Ignorant Philosopher. This edition also contains supplemental material on Voltaire including an afterword by the translator, a timeline of Voltaire's life and works, summaries of each of the works in his corpus, and a glossary of Philosophic Terminology used by Voltaire. This is the work which contains a line that still resounds 200 years later- "If there is no God, it would be necessary to create one." "Le Philosophe Ignorant" is a reflection on what we know and can know about the world (Epistemology), and the practical implications of this knowledge for our lives. Like many of Voltaire's works, and The Ignorant Philosopher is also a mimicry of a classic work- Descartes's Discourse on Method (1637). It is a Cartesianism-infused reflection on Epistemology- a first-person narrative summarizing his doubts and how he overcame them in the pursuit of truth. He discusses his development on the the fallacies of philosophy, the absurdities of religion, the field of Metaphysics and inherent a priori forms, and whether morality can be universal. Voltaire printed this edition in both French and English, but this edition is translated into Modern, readable English from the original French.

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Voltaire (1694-1778), born François-Marie Arouet, was a towering figure in the European Enlightenment, renowned for his wit, satirical genius, and fierce advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade. Born on November 21, 1694, in Paris, Voltaire was educated by the Jesuits at the Collège Louis-le-Grand, where he demonstrated an early talent in literature and theater. Despite a brief stint studying law, he devoted himself to writing, rapidly gaining fame for his sharp wit and eloquence. Voltaire's literary career was marked by numerous conflicts with French authorities, leading to periods of imprisonment and exile. His most famous stay at the Bastille prison was due to his satirical verse, which mocked the French Regent. This propensity for critique often saw him in conflict with the establishment, but it also earned him a reputation as a champion of the oppressed and a critic of religious and political dogma, including the Atheistic dogmatism of the French Revolution.