Philosophical Dictionary
Also known as Dictionnaire philosophique, Dictionnaire philosophique portatif, Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary
Voltaire's 1764 pocket dictionary of short, alphabetical articles attacking religious dogma and intolerance.
At a glance
Key ideas
Against the Church's intolerance, Dogma has human origins, Tolerance from ignorance …
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- Voltaire's Dictionnaire philosophique is a set of alphabetically arranged articles, first published anonymously in 1764.
- Many criticize the Catholic Church, Judaism, Islam and other institutions.
- It argues for deism, tolerance and freedom of the press, and traces dogmas to human origins.
- Voltaire wanted it small and cheap enough to carry in a pocket.
Why it matters
- It holds Voltaire's mature views on Christianity, God and morality; it sold out at once and was burned by the authorities in Geneva and France.
Key facts
- Author
- Voltaire, anonymously1
- Published
- 1764-06, Geneva, by Gabriel Grasset1
- First edition
- Dictionnaire philosophique portatif: 344 pages, 73 articles1
- Later editions
- Expanded to two volumes and 120 articles; four of the editions in his lifetime carried additions1
- Origin
- A game at a dinner at Frederick II's court in 1752, where each guest agreed to write an article1
- Censorship
- Censored in many countries, including Geneva and France, where copies were collected and burned in the town square1
- On Jews
- Rabbi Joseph Telushkin counts 30 of its 118 articles on Jews or Judaism, consistently negative; historian Peter Gay suggested that Voltaire struck at the Jews to strike at Christianity2
Key ideas
-
Against the Church's intolerance1
Voltaire treats the Catholic Church as intolerant and fanatical; the Calas affair is a recurring case.
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Dogma has human origins2
Articles such as "Abraham" and "Genesis" trace beliefs to people, and condemn sects shedding blood over their quarrels.
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Tolerance from ignorance1
Drawing on Newton: if "we do not know the essence of things we will not persecute others".
-
Small enough to carry1
"Revolutionary material must be small enough for people to carry with them."
-
Against the slave trade2
He sides with Montesquieu against "the fanatics and the promoters of slavery".
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