# Voltaire

> French writer, historian and philosopher (1694–1778)

**Wikidata**: [Q9068](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9068)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/voltaire

## Summary
Voltaire was a French writer, historian, and philosopher (1694–1778) who is best known for his contributions to literature, philosophy, and political thought. He was a prolific essayist, poet, and playwright, and his works, such as *Candide* and *Zadig*, remain influential in Western literature and philosophy.

## Biography
- Born: November 21, 1694, Paris, France
- Nationality: French
- Education: Studied at the Collège de Navarre and the Collège de Louis-le-Grand
- Known for: Writing *Candide*, *Zadig*, and *Letters on the English*, and contributing to the development of the *Encyclopédie*
- Employer(s): Académie Française, Voltaire Foundation (Oxford)
- Field(s): Literature, philosophy, political science, history

## Contributions
- **Candide (1759)**: A philosophical tale that critiques optimism and explores themes of suffering and reason. This work remains a foundational text in Western literature and philosophy.
- **Zadig or Destiny (1747)**: A novel that examines the relationship between fate and free will, and the role of reason in human affairs. *Zadig* is considered one of Voltaire's most important works and has had a lasting impact on literature and philosophy.
- **Letters on the English (1734)**: An essay that critiques the English language and society, and advocates for the use of the French language and culture. *Letters on the English* is a significant contribution to the study of linguistics and cultural criticism.
- **Dictionnaire philosophique (1764)**: A philosophical dictionary that explores a wide range of topics, including ethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy. *Dictionnaire philosophique* is a comprehensive work that reflects Voltaire's broad intellectual interests and has had a lasting impact on philosophy.
- **Encyclopédie (1751–1765)**: Contributed to the development of the *Encyclopédie*, a major Enlightenment project that aimed to compile knowledge from various fields. The *Encyclopédie* played a significant role in the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of the Enlightenment.
- **Poetry and Plays**: Wrote numerous poems and plays, including *Zaïre* (1732), *Mahomet* (1734), and *The Huron; or, Pupil of Nature* (1767). These works reflect Voltaire's literary versatility and have had a lasting impact on drama and poetry.
- **Philosophical Essays**: Published essays on a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, and science. These essays reflect Voltaire's intellectual curiosity and have had a lasting impact on philosophy and political thought.

## FAQs
### What are Voltaire's most famous works?
Voltaire's most famous works include *Candide* (1759), *Zadig or Destiny* (1747), *Letters on the English* (1734), and *Dictionnaire philosophique* (1764). These works are considered foundational to Western literature and philosophy.

### Where did Voltaire study and work?
Voltaire studied at the Collège de Navarre and the Collège de Louis-le-Grand in Paris. He was a member of the Académie Française and contributed to the development of the *Encyclopédie*. He also worked as a researcher and publisher at the Voltaire Foundation in Oxford.

### What is the significance of Voltaire's *Candide*?
*Candide* is a philosophical tale that critiques optimism and explores themes of suffering and reason. The novel's central character, Candide, undergoes a series of misfortunes that challenge his initial optimism and lead him to question the nature of the world. *Candide* remains a foundational text in Western literature and philosophy.

### How did Voltaire contribute to the development of the *Encyclopédie*?
Voltaire contributed to the development of the *Encyclopédie*, a major Enlightenment project that aimed to compile knowledge from various fields. He wrote numerous articles for the *Encyclopédie*, reflecting his broad intellectual interests and contributing to the dissemination of knowledge.

### What is the significance of Voltaire's *Zadig or Destiny*?
*Zadig or Destiny* is a novel that examines the relationship between fate and free will, and the role of reason in human affairs. The novel's central character, Zadig, is a philosopher who seeks to understand the nature of the world and his place in it. *Zadig* is considered one of Voltaire's most important works and has had a lasting impact on literature and philosophy.

## Why They Matter
Voltaire's contributions to literature, philosophy, and political thought have had a profound and lasting impact on Western culture. His works, such as *Candide* and *Zadig*, remain influential in Western literature and philosophy, and his essays and articles have shaped the development of the *Encyclopédie*. Voltaire's intellectual curiosity and broad range of interests have had a lasting impact on the Enlightenment and continue to influence contemporary thought. His advocacy for the use of the French language and culture has also had a significant impact on linguistics and cultural criticism. Without Voltaire, Western literature, philosophy, and political thought would be fundamentally different.

## Notable For
- Writing *Candide* (1759), a philosophical tale that critiques optimism and explores themes of suffering and reason.
- Contributing to the development of the *Encyclopédie* (1751–1765), a major Enlightenment project that aimed to compile knowledge from various fields.
- Publishing *Zadig or Destiny* (1747), a novel that examines the relationship between fate and free will, and the role of reason in human affairs.
- Writing *Letters on the English* (1734), an essay that critiques the English language and society, and advocates for the use of the French language and culture.
- Being a member of the Académie Française and the Voltaire Foundation in Oxford, which have had a lasting impact on literature, philosophy, and political thought.
- Writing numerous poems and plays, including *Zaïre* (1732), *Mahomet* (1734), and *The Huron; or, Pupil of Nature* (1767), which reflect Voltaire's literary versatility and have had a lasting impact on drama and poetry.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Voltaire was born on November 21, 1694, in Paris, France. He received his education at the Collège de Navarre and the Collège de Louis-le-Grand, where he studied philosophy, literature, and the classics. His early education laid the foundation for his later work in literature, philosophy, and political thought.

### Literary Career
Voltaire began his literary career as a poet and playwright, writing numerous poems and plays that reflected his intellectual curiosity and broad range of interests. Some of his notable works include:

- **Zaïre (1732)**: A play that explores themes of power, ambition, and the nature of the self.
- **Mahomet (1734)**: A play that examines the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, and the relationship between religion and reason.
- **The Huron; or, Pupil of Nature (1767)**: A satirical novella that critiques the French aristocracy and the Enlightenment.

### Philosophical Contributions
Voltaire's philosophical contributions are vast and influential. His essays and articles explore a wide range of topics, including ethics, metaphysics, political philosophy, and the relationship between reason and religion. Some of his most notable works include:

- **Candide (1759)**: A philosophical tale that critiques optimism and explores themes of suffering and reason.
- **Zadig or Destiny (1747)**: A novel that examines the relationship between fate and free will, and the role of reason in human affairs.
- **Letters on the English (1734)**: An essay that critiques the English language and society, and advocates for the use of the French language and culture.
- **Dictionnaire philosophique (1764)**: A philosophical dictionary that explores a wide range of topics, including ethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy.

### Political Thought and Advocacy
Voltaire's political thought and advocacy are closely tied to his literary and philosophical work. He was a vocal critic of the French aristocracy and the Enlightenment, and he advocated for the use of the French language and culture. Some of his most notable political works include:

- **Letters on the English (1734)**: An essay that critiques the English language and society, and advocates for the use of the French language and culture.
- **Dictionnaire philosophique (1764)**: A philosophical dictionary that explores a wide range of topics, including ethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy.

### Contributions to the *Encyclopédie*
Voltaire's contributions to the development of the *Encyclopédie* are significant and influential. He wrote numerous articles for the *Encyclopédie*, reflecting his broad intellectual interests and contributing to the dissemination of knowledge. The *Encyclopédie* played a significant role in the advancement of the Enlightenment and remains a foundational text in Western literature and philosophy.

### Affiliations and Memberships
Voltaire was a member of the Académie Française and the Voltaire Foundation in Oxford. These affiliations have had a lasting impact on literature, philosophy, and political thought, and they reflect Voltaire's broad range of interests and intellectual curiosity.

### Legacy and Influence
Voltaire's contributions to literature, philosophy, and political thought have had a profound and lasting impact on Western culture. His works, such as *Candide* and *Zadig*, remain influential in Western literature and philosophy, and his essays and articles have shaped the development of the *Encyclopédie*. Voltaire's intellectual curiosity and broad range of interests have had a lasting impact on the Enlightenment and continue to influence contemporary thought. His advocacy for the use of the French language and culture has also had a significant impact on linguistics and cultural criticism. Without Voltaire, Western literature, philosophy, and political thought would be fundamentally different.

### Personal Life
Voltaire was married to Émilie du Châtelet in 1716 and had seven children. He lived in various locations, including Paris, Ferney-Voltaire, and London. He died on May 30, 1778, in Ferney-Voltaire, France, and was buried in the Panthéon in Paris.

### Digital Presence and Recognition
Voltaire has numerous identifiers and classification codes, including ISNI, VIAF, and GND. He has a Wikipedia page and a Wikimedia Commons category, and he has a significant number of sitelinks, indicating extensive coverage on Wikipedia.

### Notable Works and Achievements
- **Candide (1759)**: A philosophical tale that critiques optimism and explores themes of suffering and reason.
- **Zadig or Destiny (1747)**: A novel that examines the relationship between fate and free will, and the role of reason in human affairs.
- **Letters on the English (1734)**: An essay that critiques the English language and society, and advocates for the use of the French language and culture.
- **Dictionnaire philosophique (1764)**: A philosophical dictionary that explores a wide range of topics, including ethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy.
- **Encyclopédie (1751–1765)**: Contributed to the development of the *Encyclopédie*, a major Enlightenment project that aimed to compile knowledge from various fields.
- **Awards**: Awarded the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order by King Frederick the Great of Prussia, recognizing his contributions to literature and philosophy.

### External Identifiers and Classification Codes
- ISNI: 0000 0001 2128 0652
- VIAF: 22146457
- GND: 118627813
- LCCN: n80126267
- NDL: 00459873
- NLA: 35385821
- NTA: 068806124
- SELIBR: 21644
- SNAC: n2004478090
- SUDOC: 02704694X
- Trove: 981465
- Wikidata: Q38669
- Wikipedia: Voltaire
- Wikimedia Commons: Voltaire

### Related Entities
- **Académie Française**: Voltaire was a member of the Académie Française, which is a pre-eminent council for the French language.
- **Voltaire Foundation**: Voltaire was a researcher and publisher at the Voltaire Foundation in Oxford, which is a research department of the University of Oxford.
- **Émilie du Châtelet**: Voltaire was married to Émilie du Châtelet, who was a French physicist and author.
- **Ferney-Voltaire**: Voltaire lived in Ferney-Voltaire, which is a commune in Ain, France.
- **Panthéon**: Voltaire was buried in the Panthéon in Paris, which is a monument in Paris, France.
- **Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order**: Voltaire was awarded the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order by King Frederick the Great of Prussia, recognizing his contributions to literature and philosophy.

### Key People
- **Émilie du Châtelet**: Voltaire was married to Émilie du Châtelet, who was a French physicist and author.
- **Denis Diderot**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Denis Diderot, who was a French Enlightenment philosopher, writer, and encyclopædist.
- **Jean-Jacques Rousseau**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was a Swiss-French philosopher, composer, and writer.
- **Montesquieu**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Montesquieu, who was a French Enlightenment philosopher, historian, and writer.
- **Blaise Pascal**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Blaise Pascal, who was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and Christian philosopher.
- **Cicero**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Cicero, who was a Roman statesman, lawyer, orator, and philosopher.
- **Lucian of Samosata**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Lucian of Samosata, who was a 2nd-century Syrian satirist and rhetorician.
- **Pierre Bayle**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Pierre Bayle, who was a French philosopher and writer.
- **Ibn Tufayl**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Ibn Tufayl, who was an Arab Muslim polymath.
- **Nicolas Malebranche**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Nicolas Malebranche, who was a French philosopher.
- **Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, who was an English politician and Viscount.
- **Zoroaster**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Zoroaster, who was the founder of Zoroastrianism.
- **Confucius**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Confucius, who was a 5th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and politician.
- **Miguel de Cervantes**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Miguel de Cervantes, who was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright.
- **William Shakespeare**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of William Shakespeare, who was an English playwright and poet.
- **Jean Racine**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Jean Racine, who was a French dramatist.
- **Plato**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Plato, who was a 4th-century BCE Greek philosopher.
- **John Locke**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of John Locke, who was an English philosopher and physician.
- **Isaac Newton**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Isaac Newton, who was an English mathematician and physicist.
- **Machado de Assis**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Machado de Assis, who was a Brazilian writer.
- **Alexander Pushkin**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Alexander Pushkin, who was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist.
- **Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, who was a French priest and statesman.
- **Friedrich Nietzsche**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, who was a German philosopher.
- **Alessandro Manzoni**: Voltaire was influenced by the work of Alessandro Manzoni, who was an Italian writer and poet.

## References

1. Concise Literary Encyclopedia
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
3. Integrated Authority File
4. [LIBRIS. 2017](https://libris.kb.se/katalogisering/rp3520m91f4fp46)
5. BeWeB
6. [Source](http://www.monsieurdevoltaire.com/article-29355369.html)
7. [The Fine Art Archive](https://cs.isabart.org/person/35933)
8. Library of the World's Best Literature
9. [Source](https://www.pariszigzag.fr/secret/histoire-insolite-paris/restes-voltaire-eparpilles-dans-paris)
10. Past Fellows of the Royal Society database
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. CiNii Research
13. IMDb
14. MusicBrainz
15. [Source](https://www.bbaw.de/die-akademie/akademie-historische-aspekte/mitglieder-historisch/historisches-mitglied-francois-marie-arouet-de-voltaire-2892)
16. Persée
17. [Source](https://vitterhetsakademien.se/ledamoter/ledamoter/de-voltaire-francois-marie-arouet.html)
18. [Source](http://www.mvmm.org/c/docs/loges/9ss.html)
19. [Voltaire. RKDartists](http://explore.rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/256309)
20. [François Marie dit VOLTAIRE Arouet. La France savante](http://cths.fr/an/prosopo.php?id=100468)
21. SNAC
22. Enciclopédia Itaú Cultural
23. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
24. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
25. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
26. Czech National Authority Database
27. Virtual International Authority File
28. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Voltaire)
29. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index16.html)
30. CONOR.SI
31. BBC Things
32. La France savante
33. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
34. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
35. HMML Authority File
36. performing-arts.ch
37. [Source](http://data.mimotext.uni-trier.de/entity/Q981)
38. Catalogo of the National Library of India