Dorothy Van Duyne
Prof. Tucker
HH205P
Voltaire on Tolerance: Class Discussion
Outline
Ÿ
Biographical
Information
Ÿ
Born in
1694 in
Ÿ
Received
education from Jesuit college in
Ÿ
Spends
some time in jail in 1717 and is exiled in 1726 to
Ÿ
Attracted
to philosophy of Locke,
Ÿ
Studies
Ÿ
Dies at
83 in
Ÿ
Context
Ÿ
The
Enlightenment! Victor Hugo said Voltaire characterized this 18th
century movement
Ÿ
Born in
a time of persecution and fanaticism
Ÿ
Tolerance:
the prerogative of humanity
Ÿ
Justification:
It is the first law of nature
-We all mess up,
so also we ought to forgive
-“It
is clear that every individual who persecutes a man, his brother, because he
does not agree with him is a monster.”
-Notice
description of man: senseless people, wretches, etc.
-Immediately
launches into religious tolerance, specifically Christianity
Ÿ
Christianity:
the gap between what should be and what is
-“Of
all religions the Christian is undoubtedly that which should instill the greatest
toleration, although so far the Christians have been the most intolerant of all
men.”
-Differences
with other religions: Christianity wants the whole world to be Christian:
“necessarily enemies of the whole world until is was
converted.” Other religions are not surprised when other people have their own
gods.
-Also enemies of
each other! Ever since
Ÿ
Why
Christianity should be tolerant:
-It
began fragmented, despised, and composed of the “scum of the people,” was not
popular until incorporated philosophy of Plato (a pagan)
-The
first Christians (and Jesus) were Jews, and Judaism is tolerant; also, all
Christians were once members of two
religions, which demands tolerance
-Teachings of
Jesus included tolerance
-The
church has never been united: existence of so many sects proves we should
forgive errors…that is, if so many can disagree about Christianity, why not
forgive them for disagreeing about religion in general?
-“Every
sect is a guarantee of error.” Math has no sects, no error (note influence of
period here) “What theologian would dare to say seriously that he is sure of
what he says?” because one cannot be sure, one must be tolerant
-However
he says everyone deep down believes in tolerance, which proves it is a natural
law that is only disobeyed in public
for personal reasons
Ÿ
The
faults of Christianity
-Quakers are
most like original Christians (apostles), gives a few reasons
-List of things
modern Christianity has wrong: Jesus¹God, Marriage¹Sacrament, Pope’s current powers were not
given by Jesus, etc.
-We should be
Jews, because Jesus fulfilled Jewish religion
-If
we look closely, we’ll see that “the catholic, apostolic, and Roman religion is
the opposite of the religion of Jesus in all its ceremonies and in all its
dogmas.”
-Be tolerant
because 1) we’ve messed a lot up and 2) one of the things we messed
up was Jesus’ teaching on tolerance
Ÿ
Concludes:
“But even clearer we should tolerate each other because we are all weak,
inconsistent, subject to mutability and to error.”
Ÿ
Questions
for Class: Voltaire in context of Enlightenment
Ÿ
How
does this excerpt reflect 18th century views in general?
-confidence in the power of
reason to solve man’s problems
-faith in natural laws, like
science (tolerance=natural law)
-reliance
on the empirical/scientific method Voltaire collects “evidence” from history,
does not rely on simply abstract thoughts to back up philosophy (ie “sects”
quote: when we get it right, morality will be as indisputable as math)
-criticism of church: think
without the limitations of the past
-“organization
of all data”--idea of dictionary in the first place
Ÿ
See any
contradictions in Voltaire’s logic?
Ÿ
Do you
see this as a criticism of the church, religion, or religious beliefs in
general?
Ÿ
Do you
think, by preaching tolerance, Voltaire was also preaching relativism? Why
would he disagree with that philosophy? (consider time period)
Ÿ
Do you
think Voltaire was optimistic or pessimistic about human nature?