Republican Ideas by a Member of the Academy
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
May 2024 · The Collected Works of Voltaire Book 11 · Marchen Press
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About this ebook
The Idées républicaines (1762) is a lesser-known political pamphlet through which Voltaire entered the discourse on governance in his adopted home, Geneva. Its title in English, often rendered as Republican Ideas or Republican Ideas by a Member of the Legislative Body, signals its focus on republican principles. In the pamphlet, Voltaire lays out arguments for popular sovereignty and free citizenship, and – crucially – critiques aspects of Rousseau’s Contrat social. Indeed, scholars note that the pamphlet was “undated, but … from 1762, the year of publication of the Social Contract, of which the Republican Ideas are a criticism”. Voltaire’s text refutes certain maxims of Rousseau’s Social Contract and Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws, defending instead the idea that citizens can exercise authority collectively only within a stable legal framework. For example, he rejects Rousseau’s notion that a legislative assembly automatically suspends executive power by noting that even when people convene, normal justice still operates (as in England). Throughout the pamphlet, Voltaire champions free thought and free expression, and he explicitly connects these general principles to the local political agitation in Geneva, where he urged that ordinary citizens be given a greater role in government. The text reads like a commentary on existing and historical governments, using wit and argumentative prose rather than narrative.
This modern Critical Reader’s Edition includes an illuminating afterword tracing Voltaire’s intellectual relationships with Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers (including Locke, Diderot, Rousseau and Newton), containing unique research into his influences and economic attachments, a comprehensive timeline of his life and works, a glossary of Enlightenment terminology, and a detailed index of all of Voltaire’s writings. This unique professional translation renders Voltaire’s sharp, satirical prose into modern language to preserve the original clarity and movement of the text. Combined with the scholarly amplifying material, this edition is a groundbreaking exploration of Voltaire’s classic works and his enduring artistic and philosophical influence, and influence on modern Protestant-Atheistic Theology.
About the author
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.
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