Voltaire

by Alfred Jules Ayer

This provocative analysis of the life and work of Francois Marie Arouet, pseudonymously known as Voltaire, reassesses his life and reevaluates the original impact of his voluminous writings

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published September 12, 1986

About the author

In 1910, Sir Alfred Jules Ayer was born in London into a wealthy family. His father was a Swiss Calvinist and his mother was of Dutch-Jewish ancestry. Ayer attended Eton College and studied philosophy and Greek at Oxford University. From 1946 to 1959, he taught philosophy at University College London. He then became Wykeham Professor of Logic at the University of Oxford. Ayer was knighted in 1970. Included among his many works are The Foundations of Empirical Knowledge (1940), The Problem of Knowledge (1956), The Origins of Pragmatism (1968), Metaphysics and Common Sense (1969), Bertrand Russell (1972) and Hume (1980), about philosopher David Hume. Later in life, Ayer frequently identified himself as an atheist and became active in humanist causes. He was the first vice president of the British Humanist Association and served as its president from 1965 to 1970. He was an Honorary Associate of the Rationalist Press Association from 1947 until his death. He was also an honorary member of the Bertrand Russell. In 1988, Ayer had a near-death experience in the United States after choking on salmon and subsequently losing consciousness. He wrote of his experience in “That Undiscovered Country” (New Humanist, May 1989): “My recent experiences have slightly weakened my conviction that my genuine death, which is due fairly soon, will be the end of me, though I continue to hope that it will be. They have not weakened my conviction that there is no god. I trust that my remaining an atheist will allay the anxieties of my fellow supporters of the British Humanist Association, the Rationalist Press Association and the South Place Ethical Society.” He died shortly after at age 78 in London. D. 1989.

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Reviews

[Alfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of this in a second-hand bookshop, expecting a straightforward biography of Voltaire, who is a figure I’ve long found fascinating.

Voltaire was not a man to let any barb go unanswered. His pen was both rapier and cudgel, and he wielded it with a precision that could delight or devastate. He revered certain intellectual giants (Newton chief among them) for their rigorous, evidence-based thinking, yet he had little patience for others, such as Descartes, whose abstractions he considered misguided, or Pascal, whose bleak view of humanity’s condition struck him as unnecessarily grim.

In truth, only the first 20% offers a brisk biographical sketch, while the remainder focuses on his major works. I didn’t mind this at all. In fact, given Voltaire’s life and writing are so intertwined, the structure felt rather fitting.

I was already familiar with his Letters on the English, but it was still a worthwile endeavour to revisit it, especially after learning more about some of his escapades on my own shores.

The section on his Pocket Philosophical Dictionary was equally engaging, showcasing that blend of wit, irreverence, and razor-edged clarity that made him both loved and loathed in equal measure.

The chapter on Candide, Zadig, and his other tales, however, felt lighter on literary criticism than I’d hoped. It read more like a set of synopses than a deeper engagement with the texts.

One aspect likely to surprise many readers is Voltaire’s work as an activist. His campaigns on behalf of (what he believed to be) falsely accused Protestants were real battles fought with the pen, and in at least two major cases, his efforts cleared names and restored reputations. It was a rare and admirable fusion of Enlightenment ideals with practical action.

Ultimately, this is a concise yet worthwhile introduction to Voltaire both as a man and as an author. It's full of his restless curiosity, biting humour, and unwillingness to accept ignorance or injustice without a fight.

4 out of 5.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward overview and critique of Voltaire and his work; it's certainly a beneficial research tool. However, I find it less of a comfortable, easy-going reading experience. Whether it be (1) the author's over-board analysis of Voltaire's view of English theater, (2) the truly annoying line by line refutation of Pascal that could have taken 1/3 of the actual page count used, or (3) the concluding chapter with a first half that isn't a conclusion...this is a work that is easy to admire and respect, but hard to love and enjoy.

[Aleks Romano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immensely readable. A great overview of Voltaire's biography and oeuvre with important contextual anecdotes that never runs off into obsessive fascination. Perfect for those looking for a summary with some additional points of interest.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayer does a good job of critiquing and summarizing Voltaire's work. The highlight for me was a section in which Voltaire was quoting and responding to Pascal and Ayer was commenting on Voltaire's comments. Ultimately, Voltaire is described as an interesting guy and a great symbol for freedom of speech and religion but not as someone who made any particularly original contributions to philosophy.