Voltaire And Rousseau - Opioni
OPINIONS ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
The French revolutionary cry for "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" reverberates throughout the ghostly meeting hall where Voltaire and Rousseau sit down to discuss issues such as the rights of man and the role of government. They argue violently on some topics, such as the definition of free will and general will, while concurring on ideas such as the importance of reasoning and logic in society. The discussion divides the period into three main sections; the initial revolts and uprising of the middle class, the radical time of Robespierre and the Republic of Virtue, and the rise and fall of Napoleon in France. In his opening remarks, Voltaire notes that ...
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ruler. At that moment, Rousseau interrupts by saying that the general will, while representing the people, must be controlled by the state in order to ensure that the needs of all the people are met. Deciding to take turns speaking to allow for a proper debate, Voltaire begins.
Voltaire strived to find good men in a good society, and thought that there was a strong relation between a government and the welfare of its people. He attacked those who used prejudice, superstition, intolerance, and injustice and looked for leaders who would rule by reason and justice instead. In his opinion, a leader must give the individual man his rights while at the same time ruling for the common good of the people.
This did not mean he supported a democratic form of government. Rather he gave credence to absolute rulers (or absolute monarchy), in which he felt more productive government could be found. In a democracy, he observed that it is very difficult to come to an agreement on ...
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the masses. Referring to civil laws, he felt that punishments should be useful to society. Taxes should be made proportional to the ability of a man to pay it. Laws, he noticed, often changed to suit the needs of society.
In his view of the R.C.C., Voltaire saw all those characteristics that he disliked: superstition, prejudice, intolerance, and injustice. He criticized organized religion because it did not help people to think clearly for themselves. Voltaire was a deist; one who believes that God created the universe but does not control it.
In the French Revolution, the struggle for freedom, (liberty) was a long-term goal. Voltaire pointed out that to be free or ...
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"Voltaire And Rousseau - Opioni." Essayworld.com. October 22, 2007. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Voltaire-And-Rousseau-Opioni/73122.
"Voltaire And Rousseau - Opioni." Essayworld.com. October 22, 2007. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Voltaire-And-Rousseau-Opioni/73122.
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