Voltaire : Voltaire and Enlightenment

by John Gray

Written for the general reader, this work is the 3rd batch of 6 books in this series on the "Greatest Philosophers", by acclaimed specialists. From Aristotle to Wittgenstein, from Democritus to Derrida, this series provides a survey of most of the philosophers. Each volume is briefed to address the adventurous non-specialist reader.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

John Nicholas Gray is a English political philosopher with interests in analytic philosophy and the history of ideas. He retired in 2008 as School Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Gray contributes regularly to The Guardian, The Times Literary Supplement and the New Statesman, where he is the lead book reviewer.

Reviews

[Marcus Lira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know the book is called "Voltaire", but the book is not an ordinary introduction to Voltaire: Rather, it's a critique of Voltaire as an Enlightenment thinker, written by someone who is not the Enlightenment's greatest fan. For this reason, this book is much more honest than an ordinary introduction to Voltaire.

There's an angry mob on Amazon complaining the book isn't quite what they had imagined. I can see why: This is a book about Voltaire as much as this is a book by John N. Gray - and, if you know a thing or two about John N. Gray, you should know he wouldn't praise Voltaire unless there was a very good reason (and there are a couple of them).

The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I wish the author developed some of the ideas more thoroughly. And, if you know John N. Gray, you already know a good deal of what's going to be said in this book, so I can't say I was surprised or blown away by it.

There should be more introductions like this one.

[Bablu]

really clear and well-written, cuts through the shorthand philosophers use and doesn't whitewash things when a writer thinks one way, writes another, and does something different

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Men are ruled by a random Weird."

"Habit is a second nature that destroys the first. But what is nature? Why is habit not natural? I am very much afraid that nature itself is only a first habit, just as habit is a second nature."

[Brendan · Rating 2 out of 5]

" A low opinion of the human majority is not uncommon amongst Enlightnment thinkers "

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voltaire the philosopher that challenged the Catholic Church with his Deism -which I understand is very akin to my own views on the matter.
Set the foundation of Freedom of Religion as we now enjoy, freedom of conscience.
Highly recommend this series of lectures.

[Nag Jayaraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly everything depends on history and circumstances. This book gives brief yet comprehensive view into ideas of Voltaire in the context of the life he lived and enormous volumes of documented ideas. Author is apparently very knowledgeable in bringing in numerous references to contemporary thinkers and ideologies of Voltaire to contextualize, relate to as well as contrast Voltaire.

Voltaire himself was shown as someone who had deep infallibilities as well as someone who was open to change his own ideas throughout his lifetime. That’s people miss while selectively characterizing messengers based on selective ideas from the messenger.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like a term paper by a student with little regard for the great thinker, Voltaire. Repeated critical references to Voltaire's avowedly dated writings, with an occasional grudging mention of his genius, such as Candide. Otherwise a good introduction to his contributions. Worth quoting, "Crush the Infamy!", encapsulates Voltaire's disdain for religious superstition.