The story about Voltaire
Voltaire (French: Voltaire, French pronunciation: [v?l.t], November 21, 1694 - May 30, 1778), formerly known as Francois-Marie Arou Arouet (French: Fran?ois-Marie Arouet, French pronunciation: [f?ɑ?.swa ma.?i a?.w?], French Enlightenment era thinker, philosopher, writer, recognized leader and mentor of the Enlightenment movement. Known as the "Father of French Thought", Voltaire was not only distinguished for his philosophical achievements, but also famous for his defense of civil liberties, especially freedom of belief and judicial justice, despite the harsh censorship of his time. He openly supported social reform. His discourses were characterized by satire, often attacking the dogma of the Catholic Church and the French education system at the time. Voltaire's writings and ideas, along with Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, were influential in the American Revolution and the French Revolution. [1]
He was arrested and imprisoned twice. He advocated an enlightened democratic system and emphasized freedom and equality. He often criticized the dogma of the Christian church and the French education system at that time. Hugo once commented: "Voltaire represents not a person, but a century." He advocated the natural human rights advocated by Rousseau, believing that people are born free and equal, and that all people have the ability to pursue survival and happiness. This kind of right is given by nature and cannot be taken away. This is the idea of natural human rights.
During his stay in England from 1726 to 1729, he concentrated on studying the British political system, philosophy and literature. After returning to China. Published "Philosophical Letters" (also known as "British Letters", 1734), which promoted the achievements of the British bourgeoisie after the revolution and criticized the French autocratic regime. The letters were banned after publication, and the Paris court ordered the author to be arrested. Mrs. Le lived in seclusion for 15 years in the village of Westley. In 1746, Voltaire was elected as an academician of the French Academy. Invited, he came to Berlin in 1750. He originally wanted to make a difference in politics, but Frederick II treated him as a literary attendant. The painful experience made him determined not to associate with any king.
During this period, he was close to the younger generation
The French Panthéon, where Voltaire's ashes are located
An Enlightenment thinker who wrote for the "Encyclopedia", which was later included in his "Philosophical Dictionary" (1764).
He left Berlin in 1753 and settled in Switzerland.
In 1759, Voltaire lived in Ferney.
Since 1760, he has settled in Fernay Manor on the border of France and Switzerland. He has maintained frequent correspondence with people from various European countries, and actively participated in social activities. He wrote a large number of pamphlets to expose religious persecution and judicial system under authoritarian government. Department of darkness. Severed relations with Rousseau.
During this period, religious factional struggles occurred in France, resulting in a large number of deserters. Voltaire sheltered hundreds of families of refugees in his estate. He also fought against injustice many times, seeking justice for the poor and redressing unjust cases. The one with the greatest impact was the Kara incident.
On October 13, 1761, a terrible tragedy occurred in a house on rue Feratier in Toulouse. The owner of the family, Jean Carat, was a respected Huguenot (Calvinist Protestant) businessman.
Late that night, Jean Carava
Voltaire
It was discovered that the eldest son Marc-Antoine had committed suicide by hanging from the beam in the shop. The whole family was panicked and the mother burst into tears. , alarming the neighbors. Suddenly, someone in the crowd of onlookers said: "Mark Antony was killed by his parents because he chose Catholicism." Catholicism and Protestantism have experienced religious wars in the 16th century, and have been in opposition for more than two hundred years. Still very sharp. A Toulouse judge (note: the judge, not the church) came after hearing the news. Without investigating or interrogating, and without even looking at the scene, he arrested everyone who was at home on the night of the "murder" incident.
Why did Mark Antony commit suicide? It turned out that this 28-year-old young man had studied law and wanted to be a lawyer. However, he was forced to engage in business because he could not obtain a Catholic certificate.
He wanted to get a sum of money from his father to start a business, but was rejected by his father. Disappointed, he went to a cafe every day to drink to drown his sorrows. Later, because he was in debt, he felt that his future was bleak, so he committed suicide in a single thought.
How could a gray-haired, nearly 70-year-old man hang a young and strong young man? The crime of "murder" is obviously difficult to establish. Prosecutor Diku was upright and went to court to defend Lao Kara, but was suspended for three months. Lawyer Sudel wanted to clarify the truth, but the judge, who was caught up in the excitement, refused to listen. Instead, he thought the lawyer was incompetent. The presiding judge abused his power and forced Carla to confess his accomplice. Carla spoke sternly and said categorically: "Since there is no crime, how can there be an accomplice?"
On March 10, 1762, the court disregarded all odds and found no acquittal. Based on the evidence, he was brutally sentenced to death by splitting a truck into a car. Before his execution, Lao Carla said sadly and angrily: "I have told the truth, and I died innocently..."
Not long after the incident, Voltaire heard various rumors. He
Voltaire
has always been skeptical of the church and believes that both Catholics and Protestants are shameless people. The tragic experience of the old man Kara aroused his incomparable indignation against the church and judicial authorities, and he was determined to fight for human dignity and freedom of belief.
He calmly and personally investigated and collected evidence through various channels, and summoned Carla's two sons, who had been exiled to Geneva, to Fernay. Compare the reactions heard from passengers and make a personal judgment on the entire event. During this period, he published the confessions of the two Carla brothers, wrote a pamphlet exposing this inhumane injustice, and provided all expenses for Mrs. Carla and brought her to Paris to attract the attention of public opinion. On February 3, 1763, Voltaire personally wrote a letter of appeal, concluding that "I am certain that this family is innocent." On March 7, the Privy Council ordered a retrial of the case, and the old man Kara and his family who had suffered injustice were finally vindicated.
At the end of this year, Voltaire published the famous "On Religious Tolerance", which violently criticized the religious persecution of the reactionary church and the dark phenomenon of the autocratic government that disregarded human life, and elaborated on his idealism and materialism thoughts.
Later, he also campaigned for Labar, a 19-year-old knight who was also persecuted by the church, and Sylvan, a Feng Shui master over fifty years old, and finally vindicated these two unjust cases. .
Throughout his later years, Voltaire engaged in a large number of creations with more vigorous fighting spirit. He wrote 613 entries for the "Encyclopedia" and compiled it into a volume in 1764 as the "Philosophical Dictionary" Publicly published on the topic. In addition, he also published philosophical novels "Zadig" and "Innocent Man", historical works "History of Russia under Peter the Great" and "On Parliament", etc.
It is worth mentioning that during his settlement in Fernay, he maintained frequent correspondence with people from all walks of life in various European countries. According to statistics, there are more than 10,000 letters from Voltaire that have been preserved, and as many as 700 people corresponded with him. He used this method to discuss various social issues with correspondents and promote his anti-authoritarian and anti-church enlightenment ideas. Voltaire's tireless struggle won great reputation. His name resounded throughout Europe, and many celebrities came to Ferney to seek an audience. Fernay became the center of European public opinion, and the progressives at that time respectfully called Voltaire "The Father of Fernay."
In February 1778, the 84-year-old Voltaire returned after an absence of 28 years. of Paris. As soon as the news spread, the whole city was in uproar. Some young people who had only heard his name but never seen him were even more ecstatic and flocked to his hotel, making the surrounding streets crowded. As he passed by, the women secretly plucked a hair or two from his fur coat and kept it as a holy relic.
When he arrived in Paris, Voltaire was overly excited and had a uremia attack, and was forced to stay in bed. But he still insisted on dictating the last five-act poetic tragedy "Irena". Although the script was mediocre, when it was performed, the reaction in Paris and Versailles was very strong. The queen attended the performance, and Voltaire also dragged his sick body to appreciate the last honor and happiness.
The church people had ulterior motives and wanted to use Voltaire's prestige to increase their own worth, so they took advantage of Voltaire's death in an attempt to make some money from it.
One day, a priest sneaked into Voltaire's ward and asked Voltaire to make a deathbed confession. Although Voltaire was not an atheist but a deist, he was always at odds with the church.
He knew the priest's purpose and sent him away unceremoniously.
A few days later, another abbot named Morey repeated his old trick. As soon as Voltaire saw him coming in, he asked:
"Where do you come from, priest?"
"Ah, sir, I come from God!"
"Really? Can you show me God's edict?"
Although Voltaire was seriously ill, he still maintained a clear mind and ruthlessly expressed his thoughts with his unique bitter irony. Expose the ugly face of these "wolves in monk's clothes".
On May 12, Voltaire couldn't help coughing up blood and his temperature rose sharply. The Duke of Richelieu couldn't bear to see his old friend suffer like this, so he sent him opium tincture. Voltaire was so confused that he drank all of this potent sedative. Three priests broke in while he was unconscious. After he regained consciousness, they asked him if he recognized the sanctity of Christ. Voltaire had already given a negative answer in the "Philosophical Dictionary". When he heard the words "Christ" and "Holy", he became furious, made an astonishing move, propped up the sick body, and pushed the priest angrily A handful and said: "Let me die in peace."
Before his death, Voltaire made instructions for his funeral: half of the coffin should be buried in the church and half outside the church. This means that if God lets him go to heaven, he can go to heaven from the church; if God lets him go to hell, he can sneak away quietly from the other end of the coffin.
At 11 o'clock in the evening on May 30, 1778, Voltaire passed away. The reactionary church hated this blasphemous old enemy and ordered his body to be transported out of Paris overnight and abandoned in a deserted grave.