Das Jahrhundert Voltaires

Voltaire is still the most important representative of the Enlightenment in Europe. He was a firm critic of absolutism, feudalism and the Catholic Church. Throughhis extensive correspondence, which consisted of over 20,000 letters, intellectuals were more aware of him than any other writer at that time. His sarcastic humour and irony were feared intellectual weapons in those circles. Especially in times in which trust in reason seems to be vanishing, it is evident that we should analyse the thoughts of this great philosopher of the Enlightenment. To what extent did Voltaire influence the era of Enlightenment? Which of his works were particularly important and widely read, by whom and in which countries? This book is divided into four sections: the Enlightenment in Europe, Discussing Voltaire‘s Thinking, Voltaire in France and England, and Voltaire and Frederick the Great. With contributions by Norbert Campagna, Andreas Heyer, Oliver Hidalgo, Skadi Siiri Krause, Urs Marti-Brander, Volker Reinhardt, Gideon Stiening, Damien Tricoire, Rüdiger Voigt and Laurence Weyer. The editors Norbert Campagna, Professeur-associé at the University of Luxembourg and a senior teacher at the Lycée de Garçons Esch, is the author of numerous books on both the philosophy of law and the state as well as sexual ethics. Rüdiger Voigt, a professor emeritus of administrative science at the University of the German Armed Forces in Munich, is the author and editor of numerous books on state theory and state practice.