How Did Voltaire Contribute To The Enlightenment

Many a philosopher had come along and tried to reason out the world. The Enlightenment was riddled with great thinkers who pressed their philosophical stamp in Western though—one of these was Voltaire (1694-1778). Born in Paris, France to wealthy parents, Voltaire grew to become one of the most influential, popular, and hated writers of his day. With his writings regarding reason over superstition, freedom of speech, and religious tolerance, Voltaire opened the door for the Enlightenment. Voltaire was a staunch believer in the necessity and utility of human reason. He hated superstition. In the beginning of the 18th century, the Scientific Revolution was coming to a close, and the ideas that it had imparted upon the world radically rearranged Western thinking. Voltaire was a great believer in the power of science and reason. He argued that in order for society to progress, people must let go of their silly
He despised the French monarchy for forcing Catholicism upon France and criticized the Catholic Church’s attempts to stamp out other religions. Citing the 30 Years’ War, the Spanish Inquisition, and his own native France’s crusade against the Huguenots, Voltaire argued that religious intolerance lead to violence and bloodshed. Instead, he viewed England as a prime example as to how religion in society ought to be. People could freely practice their beliefs without fear of grievance and oppression. The world, he maintained, would be much more peaceful and prosperous in people embrace the large plurality of religions in society. Voltaire argued for freedom of speech, religion, and reason. He once declared that, “Common sense is not so common.”—he was right. He fought with quill and ink for common rights to speech and religion and urged people to construct their own views of things. He stamped his philosophical mark on the world and gave enlightenment to us