Letter from Voltaire to Rousseau

· The Collected Works of Voltaire Boek 20 · Marchen Verlag
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Voltaire’s pen becomes a rapier in this scathing open letter aimed at Jean-Jacques Rousseau, slicing into the heart of their philosophical feud with unmistakable relish. This bold 1766 missive shows two Enlightenment giants locked in a war of words, as the witty patriarch of Ferney unleashes his satire on the equally fiery citizen of Geneva.

Written in response to Rousseau’s radical ideas in The Social Contract, Voltaire’s letter thanks Rousseau “for your new book against the human race” with razor-edged irony, only to dissect his arguments on government, society, and religion as dangerously impractical. Adopting the polite veneer of correspondence, Voltaire in fact crafts a public chastisement: he praises Rousseau’s eloquence even as he mocks the notion that civilization corrupts mankind, countering with his own belief in progress, refinement, and common sense. The context of its publication was itself an act of defiance – printed abroad and circulated widely, this letter was Voltaire’s way of ensuring that his rebuttal reached salons and coffee-houses across Europe, even if it never passed directly into Rousseau’s hands.

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.

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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.

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