On the Soul

Written around 1774, On the Soul is Voltaire’s incisive foray into the realm of metaphysics and the philosophy of mind – topics as contentious in the 18th century as they are timeless. Acknowledging the sensitivity of questioning the soul’s nature, Voltaire published this piece under a pseudonym, adopting the persona “Soranus, physician to Emperor Trajan,” as the supposed author. This clever frame allowed him to explore ideas that might otherwise have invited censure: by hiding behind the voice of a learned Roman doctor, Voltaire could dissect religious and philosophical doctrines about the soul with clinical detachment and a touch of historical whimsy. The text itself reads as a learned discussion, often addressing the reader as though presenting empirical observations and stoic reflections from antiquity. Voltaire (as “Soranus”) examines whether the soul is an immortal, immaterial essence or simply the result of physical processes – a debate that in his day pitted theologians against materialist philosophers.

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.