Political Philosophy Essays

He was impressed by the freedom of thought in England (“Voltaire | Author and Philosopher”). He studied the works of John Locke, and adapted them to fit his own ways of conveying messages to the French revolutionists, such as writing Locke’s ideas and theories into a novel that could be read by anyone. Through his writing, Voltaire attempted to “bring about reform of the social and legal structure that existed at the time” (“Voltaire”1). His works spoke out against war, religious intolerance, and political and social injustice. He learned to speak and write what he truly thought from studying the works of both Locke and Newton (“Voltaire”2).

The study of politics has evolved throughout the different epochs of history. The study of politics, by political philosophy, dates back at least fifth century B.C., where Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, were credited by being called its “founding fathers” (Chiranjeev et al., 2013, p42.). Political philosophy, as a study of politics, has progressed throughout the history of studying political phenomena. It brought numerous issues, revolutions, approaches, etc. on how to study politics. Two of which are the formation of political science and political theory. The connection between the three, political philosophy, political science, and political theory, is something that can be related to Hegelian dialectics. By analyzing political philosophy’s progress, it would give a better light on how the former molded the emergence of political science and theory.

A noble philosopher, Francois- Marie d’ Arouet, also known as Voltaire was a French Philosopher, writer, activist, and political idealist who used his written word to help push vast scientific, political, and social change. He broke new comprehensive Europe in the Enlightenment, but his writing serve to introduce and popularize the original thinking of philosophers like Newton and Locke and to make him celebrate public figure.

Francois-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name “Voltaire”, once said “Nothing is more dangerous than ignorance and intolerance armed with power”. This quote criticizes the government and the Catholic Church - two institutions known for their lack of tolerance, respect, and value of the common person’s life. Voltaire was a French author, historian, and philosopher who was active during the age of enlightenment in the 18th century. It was a time characterized by the discussion of four new values: Humanitarianism, ending suffering; Progress, furthering society; Rationality, using logic and reason to improve the world; and Freedom of Thought, challenging traditional authority, blind obedience, and superstition. Voltaire is known for

Voltaire, Enlightenment thinker from the seventh century, composed many of his works to show how corrupt the government had become from the start of his life, his greatest works, and his death. At a young age, Voltaire wasn’t his original name, he was named Francois-Marie Arouet. During the time of his growth, his father has discouraged him to be a writer and to become a lawyer instead.

France during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, was a time of intolerance, abuse and misrepresentation. During this time, a very select few writers, and philosophers voiced their enlightened ideas regarding the oppression of the French government and Catholic church. Voltaire was among the most influential French thinkers of his time and would use his bold and progressive nature to challenge the traditional constructs of society, religion and government.

A renowned thinker and philosopher of his day, Voltaire’s works were influential to many who read them. To a modern reader with no context, the meanings may be lost. However, to someone reading shortly after publication, the meanings would be obvious. Voltaire’s two works are around twenty years apart and have certain points of continuity and dissent. His views on religion seem to change, while his appreciation for thinkers is a common theme in both works. The key connection between the two is in the final statement of Candide and the final letter in Letters on England, where Voltaire encourages readers to take action.

Reflective Statement Question: How was your understanding of cultural and contextual considerations developed through your research/IOP? Work used: Candide by Voltaire Before reading Voltaire’s book Candide, research was done on the Age of Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment occurred from 1620-1781.

The question of how much power should the state have over its people and how the people react to that demonstration of power has been a prominent theme throughout history. Limiting power first began with King John’s signing of the Magna Carta which limited his authority as a king creating the first constitutional monarchy. To thoughts of the enlightenment particularly the ideas of John Locke and Jean Jacque Rousseau, ideas such as equality of man in Locke’s Two Treaties on Government or how the general will contribute to the limitation of sovereign power mentioned in Rousseau’s Two Treatises on Government. Ideals which directly or indirectly led to revolutions particularly the French Revolution and the uprising of the third estate and the Declaration

The Age of Enlightenment occurred from the 1620s until the 1780s. This movement began in England, and steadily spread almost worldwide before long. The term Enlightenment was used to contrast the Dark Ages, a time in which innovation and free-thinking was at an all-time low. Voltaire’s French philosophy included free-thinking and the struggle for defense of civil liberties, in which he uses almost every known literary form, including novels, poetry, and performance art such as plays. His intellectual skepticism of traditional beliefs and dogmas denotes an “illumined” contrast to the supposed dark and superstitious character of the Middle Ages.

François-Marie Arouet, or as I will refer to him in this paper as (Voltaire), was born in Paris, France in 1694. He was one if not the leading writers of the Enlightenment, A time period between 1650-1800. Some of Voltaire’s greatest works were Candide, probably his most famous, Zaire, a tragic play, and a historical study of King louis the fourteenth called The age of Louis XIV. Voltaire had a nasty habit of getting in trouble with the French authorities for his writings, he was imprisoned twice and died shortly after returning to Paris in 1778.

Political philosophy: questions that cannot be answered only through empirical research. May be conceptual (e.g., what is the nature of social cooperation? What makes a being free?) or normative (e.g., should governments be democratic? What should entitle someone to be a citizen of the European Union? Why should we care about freedom, or about equality? What does appreciating the importance of freedom, or equality, entail?). Some political philosophy is only implicitly normative and is explicitly critical, i.e., focuses on critiquing an institution (e.g., the state), practice (e.g., the global economic order), or concept or theory (e.g., liberalism).

Aspects of life that influence the government’s authority includes the Declaration of Independence. “It is to secure our rights that we resort to government at all,” stated Thomas Jefferson to Francois D’Ivernois in the year 1795. When Jefferson states this, he is saying that the government is the thing that we resort to, in order to secure our rights. Governments are responsible for making sure all citizens are taken care of and they also need to make sure that they create rights that will ensure stability and peace. Therefore, because the constitution states that governments are depended on to secure rights, it shows why governments have the authority to do what they do. Other aspects of life such as deities in a Theocracy, and the mandate of Heaven in Zhou China, also gave the government the authority to do the things they do, since the gods gave deserving people the right and power to rule governments and people in the

François-Marie Arouet, also known as Voltaire after his writings exiled him from france, was an Era of Enlightenment philosopher that focused on social oppression, Government corruption, and fanaticism; i.e, optimistic philosophy and religion. Voltaire 's writing style was indignantly satirical to the late middle ages system, but despite exile from France because of his writing, he became popular among the masses for his philosophy. Candide, one of Voltaire 's more famous works, expresses lack of reasoning in optimistic philosophy, for the application of practical issues. Candide’s journey is expressed in a quick turnover of events, leaving the reader unavailable to emotionally attach themselves to tragedies; however, Candide’s transformation to an ethical individual is expressed by the lack of practical use of optimistic philosophy.

Francois-Marie d’Arouet, or more commonly known by his pen name Voltaire, is a writer and a philosopher whose works have stood the test of time. Possessing exceptional wit and flamboyance, while greatly making his writings popular among readers past and present, led to him being on the bad side of the monarchs. His continuous run ins with the church and the state led to his self imposed exile to Great Britain, where he was immensely impressed by their liberal culture and exquisite writers such as Shakespeare, Newton and John Locke (who was his greatest influence). Voltaire is often credited as spearheading the Enlightenment movement due to his works dealing with a multitude of controversial topics such as criticism of the church, requesting the right to free speech, separation of church and state among others. Another matter touched upon by Voltaire is that of women, their position, and their role in the 18th century society in his and arguably France’s greatest literary work Candide, or “L’Optimism”. A novel playing to Voltaire’s greatest strength, his satirical abilities, on the forefront deals with THE paradox that is the coexistence of evil and God, while simultaneously exposing the derogatory treatment of women in the 18th century.