Philosophical Dictionary

by Voltaire, Theodore Besterman (Translator), Theodore Besterman (Introduction)

Overview

Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary, first published in 1764, is a series of short, radical essays - alphabetically arranged - that form a brilliant and bitter analysis of the social and religious conventions that then dominated eighteenth-century French thought. One of the masterpieces of the Enlightenment, this enormously influential work of sardonic wit - more a collection of essays arranged alphabetically, than a conventional dictionary - considers such diverse subjects as Abraham and Atheism, Faith and Freedom of Thought, Miracles and Moses. Repeatedly condemned by civil and religious authorities, Voltaire's work argues passionately for the cause of reason and justice, and criticizes Christian theology and contemporary attitudes towards war and society - and claims, as he regards the world around him: 'common sense is not so common'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780140442571
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/06/1984
Series:	Penguin Classics Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Voltaire (1694 - 1778) became known in Paris for his satires and odes, and his frist tragedy Oedipe was performed with great success. He was imprisoned in the Bastille twice in his life and after the second time spent time in England (1726 - 29). He returned to France, but his political opinions meant he was never really safe there and he eventually settled in Geneva, where he remained until near the end of his life and wrote his most famous works, including Candide. Theodore Beterman is the founder and director of the Institut et Musee Voltaire, and author of the standard biography on Voltaire.

Table of Contents

Preface by Voltaire
Adultery
Advocate
Ancients and Moderns
Animals
Antiquity
Arts
Astrology
Atheism
Authority
Authors
Banishment
Bankruptcy
Beauty
Bishop
Books
Bouleverd
Bourges
Brahmins
Character
Charlatan
Civil Laws
Climate
Common Sense
Concatenation of Events
Contradictions
Corn
Cromwell
Customs
Democracy
Destiny
Devout
Ecclesiastical Ministry
Emblem
English Theatre, On the
Envy
Equality
Expiation
Extreme
Ezourveidam
Faith
False Minds
Fatherland
Final Causes
Fraud
Free-Will
French
Friendship
God
Helvetia
History
Ignorance
Impious
Joan of Arc
Kissing
Languages
Laws
Liberty
Library
Limits of the Human Mind
Local Crimes
Love
Luxury
Man
Man In the Iron Mask
Marriage
Master
Men of Letters
Metamorphosis
Milton, On the Reproach of Plagiarism Against Mohammedans
Mountain
Nakedness
Natural Law
Nature
Necessary
New Novelties
Philosopher
Power, Omnipotence
Prayers
Precis of Ancient Philosophy
Prejudices
Rare
Reason
Religion
Sect
Self-Esteem
Soul
States, Governments
Superstition
Tears
Theist
Tolerance
Truth
Tyranny
Virtue
Why?
Declaration of Admirers, Questioners and Doubters