Voltaire's Treatise on Toleration

Definition

This is a work by the French philosopher Voltaire, published in 1763, advocating for religious tolerance and freedom of thought. It was a response to the intolerance and fanaticism he saw in France, particularly after the execution of Jean Calas.

Analogy

Think of Voltaire's Treatise on Toleration as a rulebook for a board game where everyone can play regardless of their character's backstory. Just like how this rulebook would promote fairness and equal opportunity among players, Voltaire’s treatise argued for acceptance and equality among people of different religions.

Related terms

Enlightenment: A cultural movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, skepticism, and science over traditional authority and superstition.

Jean Calas: A Protestant merchant who was wrongly executed for murder based on religious prejudice. His case inspired Voltaire to write his Treatise on Toleration.

Philosophes: Intellectuals during the Enlightenment who applied reason to various areas of learning including philosophy, history, science, politics, economics and social issues.