Alan Charles Kors: Voltaire’s ‘Philosophical Letters,’ Part II
Ralston College presents a lecture by Alan Charles Kors on Voltaire’s great work ’The Philosophical Letters.’ Profoundly impressed by the English scientific and philosophical revolutions of the seventeenth century, Voltaire sought to explain and to popularize new British thinking to his French readers. He argued that sound and innovative thinkers were more important to humanity than its political or military heroes and that preferring the philosophers of one’s native land over those of another nation was a barrier to truth and knowledge. In this second part of a broader lecture on Voltaire’s thought, Professor Kors expands upon Voltaire’s observations of the relative political and economic freedom in England at the time and its connection to an underlying philosophical worldview.
This lecture and discussion were recorded with a live online audience on April 28th, 2022.
Authors and Works Mentioned in this Episode
Alan Charles Kors, ‘Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment’
Alan Charles Kors, ‘Atheism in France, 1650–1729: The Orthodox Sources of Disbelief’
Voltaire, ‘The Philosophical Letters’
William Penn
Socinianism
John Locke
Deism
Edmund Burke
Links of Possible Interest:
Dr Kors’ Profile at FIRE
Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment
Ralston College
Ralston College Short Courses
Ralston College Humanities MA
Stephen Blackwood
Timeline
0:00 – Introduction
2:09 – Kors’ Lecture: Criticism and response to Voltaire’s work in his time
8:09– Context of ‘The Philosophical Letters’ publication
17:23 – Voltaire’s use of irony
19:43 – Voltaire on the Quakers and the introduction of pluralistic thought
30:00 – Religion studied in natural terms
42:22 – The Socinians and the founding of new religious sects
44:48 – The virtues of English governance versus the French aristocracy
*Discussion*
54:52 – Voltaire’s admiration of the Quakers’ first principles
1:01:59 – The limitation of arbitrary power; religious monism as an origin for human suffering
1:11:44 – Why could England control the power of kings?
1:15:33 – Voltaire’s support for English empiricism over French rationalism
1:19:27 – Political radicalism and Voltaire’s fear of disorder
1:22:22 – Voltaire’s ‘reform of the mind’ and the necessity of humility
1:32:42 – The cost of coercion and what is at stake in freedom of conscience
#RalstonCollege
1 view
265
56
2 months ago 00:04:05 1
French Montana, Swae Lee - Wish U Well (Official Music Video) ft. Lojay, Jess Glynne
2 months ago 00:03:34 1
Charli xcx - Von dutch (official video)
2 months ago 01:18:40 1
Paul Mauriat (towards 100th anniversary on 4th March 2025)
2 months ago 00:04:00 1
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
2 months ago 00:02:54 1
Apashe - Uebok VIP [Music Video]
2 months ago 00:03:42 1
Игра престолов. Дейенерис сжигает Дикона и Рендилла Тарли
2 months ago 00:02:50 1
Встреча Пса и Горы - Начало собрания (Игра Престолов Сезон 7 - Серия 7)
2 months ago 01:28:35 1
ТАЙНЫ ЧЕРНОЙ ГОРЫ: НЕОБЪЯСНИМЫЕ ИСЧЕЗНОВЕНИЯ И ТЁМНЫЕ СИЛЫ. Чёрная гора. Лучшие Фильмы Ужасы
2 months ago 00:05:22 1
Fontaines D.C. - In The Modern World
3 months ago 00:06:25 1
LOST Cast - Then and Now [2024] (How They Changed)
3 months ago 00:03:33 12
The Warning - Qué Más Quieres (Official Video)
3 months ago 00:07:01 1
Metallica: If Darkness Had a Son (Official Music Video)
3 months ago 00:26:28 1
Энигму взломали за много лет до Тьюринга... Отличие реальной истории от фильма “Игра в имитацию“
3 months ago 00:38:29 1
Tommy “The Duke” Morrison - All Knockouts
3 months ago 00:17:37 1
LINKIN PARK I ЧТО НЕ ТАК С ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЕМ? ЧЕСТЕР БЕННИНГТОН vs ЭМИЛИ АРМСТРОНГ?
3 months ago 01:32:39 1
Barnaby 1003 La chasse au trésor complet en francais
3 months ago 00:04:09 14
How would a nuclear war between Russia and the US affect you personally?
3 months ago 00:01:19 1
039 Renaissance Dance Pavane
3 months ago 06:27:35 1
September 2024 EDM Mix 🎧 Mashups & Remixes Of Popular Songs 2024 🎧 EDM Bass Boosted Music Mix 2024
3 months ago 01:57:54 1
Unternehmen Capricorn 1978
3 months ago 00:04:13 1
Caravan (Remastered)
3 months ago 00:05:40 1
Metallica: Screaming Suicide (Official Music Video)