Voltaire and Voltaire and Enlightenment Enlightenment Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism

By: Katelyn CartretteBy: Katelyn Cartrette

VoltaireVoltaire Born on November 21, 1694Born on November 21, 1694 Francois Marie Arouet Francois Marie Arouet Francois’ intelligence, wit Francois’ intelligence, wit

and style made him one of and style made him one of France’s greatest writers France’s greatest writers and philosophers. and philosophers.

Was in trouble with the Was in trouble with the authorities and was authorities and was imprisoned in the Bastille for imprisoned in the Bastille for eleven months for writing a eleven months for writing a satire of the French satire of the French government. government.

While he was in prison he While he was in prison he wrote wrote Oedipe, Oedipe, which was his which was his first theatrical success, and first theatrical success, and where he adopted his pen where he adopted his pen name of Voltaire. name of Voltaire.

In 1726 he was in trouble In 1726 he was in trouble again and was given two again and was given two options of either being options of either being put in prison again or put in prison again or being exiled. being exiled.

Voltaire chose exile and Voltaire chose exile and lived in England from lived in England from 1726-1729.1726-1729.

While he was in England While he was in England Voltaire became attracted Voltaire became attracted to the thinking of to the thinking of philosopher John Locke philosopher John Locke and the mathematical and and the mathematical and scientific ideas of Sir scientific ideas of Sir Isaac Newton.Isaac Newton.

Voltaire was a voice Voltaire was a voice of reason.of reason.

He was an He was an outspoken critic of outspoken critic of religious intolerance religious intolerance and persecution.and persecution.

Voltaire died in Paris Voltaire died in Paris at the age of 83.at the age of 83.

Because of his Because of his criticism of the criticism of the church Voltaire was church Voltaire was denied burial in the denied burial in the church ground. church ground.

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

- VOLTAIRE

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

During the enlightenment movement During the enlightenment movement intellect was the most important and intellect was the most important and central characteristic of man.central characteristic of man.

The intellect should be the focus of human The intellect should be the focus of human behavior and evaluation.behavior and evaluation.

According to this way of thinking one would According to this way of thinking one would need to find logic in the world and not to need to find logic in the world and not to function according to emotions and beliefs. function according to emotions and beliefs.

This way of thinking cut ties with organized This way of thinking cut ties with organized religion and support intellect and logic.religion and support intellect and logic.

During the time of Enlightenment there was a During the time of Enlightenment there was a drop in anti-semitism and so Jews enjoyed an drop in anti-semitism and so Jews enjoyed an improved socio-political status.improved socio-political status.

A positive result of this change was that one had A positive result of this change was that one had to relate to the Jews as one did to any other to relate to the Jews as one did to any other person without looking at ethnic origin, and only person without looking at ethnic origin, and only at their actions and achievements. at their actions and achievements.

In this time period there was the thought that In this time period there was the thought that there was no justification for discrimination on there was no justification for discrimination on basis of religion. basis of religion.

Jews began to gain equality in the eye of the law. Jews began to gain equality in the eye of the law. Even though there was this new of thinking Even though there was this new of thinking

about the Jews the old way still remained.about the Jews the old way still remained.

"I am sure that the Jewish people are the strangest of all the peoples in the world. And despite the fact that from a political viewpoint they are the most despised of all, they are of great importance in the eyes of the philosophers…"

"And if so, there is therefore great truth in this, the Jews upheld the laws of their Torah and offered up human sacrifices. And this act, that their religion commands them, is fits well their lifestyles. Their books describe them as they slaughter without mercy, all who get in their way and they leave only the girls alive for their own needs."

"But what can I say to my Jewish brother. Should I invite him to dine with me? Yes, but only on condition that Balaam's ass does to even think of braying, that Ezekiel does not mix his breakfast with our meal, that a fish does not come and swallow one of the participants and keep him in his belly for three days, that a serpent not interfere in our conversation and try to entice my wife … and most of all, that no Jew encircle my home with blasts of rams horns in order destroy the walls of the house in order to kill me, my father, my mother, my wife, my children, my cat and dog, in accordance with the ancient customs of the Jews."

"It seems to me that you [the Jews] are the greatest madmen. The Kaffirs, the Hottentots [the term used in those times for African tribes] and the black people of Guinea are more reasonable and upright people then the forefathers of your fathers the Jews. You have outdone all the nations in your impertinent fabrications, your bad behavior and your hooliganism."

"We are all born with zealousness in our hearts, in the same way as the Britons and the Germans are born with blonde hair. I would not be surprised no matter what happens, if one day these people will cause the human race to be wiped out."

Even though the Jews in fact did Even though the Jews in fact did enjoy the reward of equality during enjoy the reward of equality during this time there was a price to pay. this time there was a price to pay.

They were expected to go through a They were expected to go through a process of improvement, correction, process of improvement, correction, and reciprocity. and reciprocity.

The burden of proving that they The burden of proving that they were deserving of this equality was were deserving of this equality was the responsibility of the Jews. the responsibility of the Jews.

French Equal Rights LawFrench Equal Rights Law

"[The meeting] annuls all deferrals, "[The meeting] annuls all deferrals, reservations, and exceptions to the reservations, and exceptions to the rule, that were included in previous rule, that were included in previous rulings with respect to specific Jews, rulings with respect to specific Jews, that they swear the oath of that they swear the oath of citizenship, which will be regarded citizenship, which will be regarded as a renunciation of all the privileges as a renunciation of all the privileges and exceptions afforded to them in and exceptions afforded to them in the past." the past."

The Jews refused to give up their The Jews refused to give up their religious and national identity and religious and national identity and “dissolve” into society. “dissolve” into society.

This was seen as them not keeping This was seen as them not keeping up their end of the bargain and as up their end of the bargain and as ungratefulness.ungratefulness.

This began a new and significant This began a new and significant level of hatred the European level of hatred the European countries had for the Jews. countries had for the Jews.

The Romantic MovementThe Romantic Movement

The Romantic Movement became a The Romantic Movement became a reaction to the standpoint of the reaction to the standpoint of the Enlightenment movement. Enlightenment movement.

Fighting against the rational thought Fighting against the rational thought that all men are created equal the that all men are created equal the Romantics questioned this asking Romantics questioned this asking are all men really created equal?are all men really created equal?

The answer to this question was no.The answer to this question was no.

The people who adopted this idea thought The people who adopted this idea thought that there were specific personality that there were specific personality characteristics that belonged to certain characteristics that belonged to certain groups of people. groups of people.

According to this mankind and history is According to this mankind and history is directed by factors rather than logic. directed by factors rather than logic.

Their thoughts formed the idea that the Their thoughts formed the idea that the nation was not a coincidental gathering of nation was not a coincidental gathering of people, but a group with specific traits who people, but a group with specific traits who develop together historically. develop together historically.

This way of thinking was different than the This way of thinking was different than the Social Contract theory which was the Social Contract theory which was the thinking during the Enlightenment period. thinking during the Enlightenment period.

The path from this way of thinking to The path from this way of thinking to racism is a short one.racism is a short one.

Since these people were divided into Since these people were divided into groups, certain ones would start groups, certain ones would start showing supremacy over the others. showing supremacy over the others.

This approach was intensified, This approach was intensified, especially in Germany.especially in Germany.

The German state was not based on The German state was not based on territorial borders, but rather on the image of territorial borders, but rather on the image of the “German” without a connection to any the “German” without a connection to any place or land. place or land.

The “German” is a person who is born into The “German” is a person who is born into the German organic ethnic grouping.the German organic ethnic grouping.

Therefore it is easy to see why the Jews were Therefore it is easy to see why the Jews were not accepted in this society.not accepted in this society.

Even though they had become assimilated Even though they had become assimilated into German society, they would never into German society, they would never become part of the living, organic entity that become part of the living, organic entity that was the Germans.was the Germans.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

When you think of anti-semitism do When you think of anti-semitism do you think of it as being a part of our you think of it as being a part of our past or does it continue today?past or does it continue today?

Anti-semitism is mainly thought of as Anti-semitism is mainly thought of as being a part of World War II; since it being a part of World War II; since it was apart of earlier history why do was apart of earlier history why do you think it was still allowed to you think it was still allowed to continue so many years later?continue so many years later?

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Mar 2011. Mar 2011. <http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95nov/voltaire.html<http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95nov/voltaire.html>. >.

"Waves of Anti-Semitism." "Waves of Anti-Semitism." SnunitSnunit. Snunit, 2002. Web. 7 . Snunit, 2002. Web. 7 Mar 2011. Mar 2011. <http://www.snunit.k12.il/seder/anti/english/hate8eng.<http://www.snunit.k12.il/seder/anti/english/hate8eng.html>. html>.

"Ancestors." "Ancestors." NovaNova. Web. 7 Mar 2011. . Web. 7 Mar 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/ance-<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/ance-09.html>. 09.html>.

Sutcliffe, Adam. "Judaism and the Politics of Sutcliffe, Adam. "Judaism and the Politics of Enlightenment." Enlightenment." American Behavioral ScientistAmerican Behavioral Scientist 49.5 49.5 702-715. Web. 7 Mar 2011. 702-715. Web. 7 Mar 2011. <http://abs.sagepub.com/content/49/5/702>. <http://abs.sagepub.com/content/49/5/702>.