Voltaire on Liberty

Wootton David ()
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Wootton David: University of York, York, UK

Journal des Economistes et des Etudes Humaines, 2022, vol. 28, issue 1, 59-90

Abstract: This article sets forth Voltaire’s philosophy of liberty. Contrary to generally accepted readings, which take Voltaire at face value rather than considering the environment in which he wrote, Voltaire had a clear normative political thought. He was an early proponent of rule of law, ordered liberty, freedom of conscience and expression, and the right to prudent rebellion against tyranny. At the root of his political theory lay a rejection of slavery, and hence of all forms of subjugation.

Keywords: Voltaire; liberty; philosophy of liberty; law of nature; despotism; absolutism; slavery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1515/jeeh-2022-0026

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