Rousseau and Voltaire got into a huge fight following an earthquake in Portugal. Read both of these documents and blog about their differences of opinion.
Rousseau Letter to Voltaire: "Everyone would have fled the first shock. How many unfornuates perished in this disaster through the desire to fetch their clothing, papers, or money?..."
Rousseau is putting the blame of so many deaths on the victims & not so much on the natural disaster. Because the desire to collect their belongings, the people missed the oppurtunity to live. Everything has a consequence & theirs was life changing.
Voltaire's Poem: "What crime, what error did these children, Crushed & bloodied on their mothers' breasts, commit?"
Voltaire is stating that the event was disasterous & that lives were taken when they should not have been. He uses the illusion of dead children to get people to pity the dead & perhaps help those who aren't as fornuate as the dead.
Rousseau is saying that there is no use writing about the event because it has no effect on the people who live in other parts of the world in some ways. He can also be writing because Voltaire told others to think & analyze about it in the poem; he can also be helping to start the discussion about the earthquake.
You could also say that Rousseau said "you only vex me. It might be said that you fear I don't feel my unhappiness enough, and you are trying to soothe me by proving all is bad." because he felt like Voltaire was putting too much thought into it almost. I think Rousseau was saying this to show that just because he didn't seem to be as upset he still understood the disastrous events.
Rousseau's Letter to Voltaire: "it is not certain that a single one of these unfortunates suffered more than if, in the normal course of events, he had awaited [a more normal] death to overtake him after long agonies."
Rousseau is trying to down play how tragic all of the deaths were in this earthquake. He writes this as if to say "it could have been worse for these people and as far as i'm concerned they got off easy." Rousseau has no compassion for the people who have died, but he feels that everyone that survived has survived because it was the will of God.
Voltaire's Peom: "Oh, miserable mortals! Oh wretched earth! Oh, dreadful assembly of all mankind! Eternal sermon of useless sufferings!" Throughout the poem, Voltaire is trying to show that the destruction caused by this earthquake was devastating and that the people who were killed had no reason to die. Also in this poem, he refutes future arguments that would say that the people deserved to die because God was trying to punish them for their crimes. he poses the question: "What crime, what error did these children...commit?" He is able to show that the people were completely helpless against this earthquake and didn't deserve to die.
Libby, this could relate to the Enlightenment because Voltaire is questioning God. He is saying that God killed these people for no reason & he is also showing how people think they have power, yet they don't when it comes to God.
Rousseau's and Voltaire's views over the earthquake differed intellectually as well as religiously. Rousseau denounces Voltaire's poem for simply being a lengthy expression of his unhappiness rather than a work supported by reason and evidence. The Enlightenment brought about the use of reason and evidence to support intellectual claims. Voltaire condemns the optimism of philosophers like Alexander Pope and Leibnitz in response to the earthquake in Lisbon. However, Rousseau supports the Enlightenment view of perpetual optimism by arguing that the philosophers' optimism makes people feel better and more hopeful about the situation, whereas Voltaire merely lists out the massive suffering of the people, making everyone feel worse. Voltaire also brings religion into his account of the suffering in Lisbon when he implies that God could have prevented this situation, but did not. Voltaire, as Rousseau points out in his letter, finds only evil on earth and finds it to contradict the supposed goodness of God. Rousseau, on the other hand, believes the Enlightenment view that that reason and instinct are a part of human nature. Therefore, Rousseau blames the death of the people on the selfish human instinct to not leave behind their belongings. He also uses reason to propose that the proximity of the homes could have led to more destruction during the earthquake, rather than turning to religion and blaming God. Rousseau's view reflects the turn towards secular thought during the Enlightenment period. Rousseau's line "...you revel, I hope, and hope beautifies everything," also reflects the Enlightenment movement towards the use of reason and hope to achieve natural law and therefore, to achieve progress and a better society.
In his poem, Voltaire uses graphic imagery ( "crushed and bloody", "their smoking ashes", etc.) to intensify his disgust with the earthquake in Lisbon. In the spirit of the Enlightenment, he questions the authority and omnipresence of God, and blames the earthquake and the deaths that ensued on the possible lack of a "good" God. This earthquake had coincidentally struck Portugal, a strongly Catholic state, on an important church holiday. Voltaire also extends this blame to the monarchy in Portugal, which was filled with political tensions and power struggles, by saying "Did Lisbon, which is no more, have more vices, than London and Paris..." Enlightenment thinking often questioned the validity of political authority, and urged citizens to alter or lessen it if necessary. Conversely, Rousseau argues that the blame for the deaths caused by the earthquake is a result of the people's selfishness and value of material goods, rather than God. This demonstrates the Enlightenment's move towards reasoning through observation (which stemmed from the ideas of experimentation and inductive reasoning from the scientific revolution) as well as a movement from religious-based thinking to more secular thinking. He also argues that Voltaire's negative approach to reconciling this event is not necessary, and favors the more optimistic and hopeful accounts of Pope and Leibniz. This also demonstrates the increased value of optimism found in the Enlightenment period. As seen in the poem earlier, as well as in his satire Candide, Voltaire does not necessarily agree with this optimistic way of thinking.
Voltaire thinks of the earthquake in Portugal as devastating and destructive. It makes him upset and angry at God for letting this horrible disaster take place. He wonders why God would let this happen to young children, who died without reason. He also questions why the children would have to die without committing any crimes in which they would have paid for. Voltaire questions God's presence, and he wonders that if he is a "free and good" God, why he would allow these events to happen.
Rousseau responds to Voltaire's letter and deems it as negative. Rousseau believes that the quick deaths of the citizens could be considered a blessing because it is worse to suffer. He says that Voltaire's poem prompts him to grumble, and it makes him angry to think Voltaire only sees the negative sides of the earthquake. Rousseau, however, almost makes the deaths of the earthquake seem less serious. He puts a positive tone on something that is highly depressing. Voltaire shows the realistic side of the events that happened, while Rousseau tries to cover up the tragedy that took place.
Voltaire speaks from anger: "Libson is destroyed and they dance in Paris!" showing how much of the more wealthy see events like this as not so big of a deal when in reality this was a catastrophic event. His poem was angered toward God who killed these people, but mostly as a defiant mark against the pompous, uncaring people.
Rousseau spoke that the events could not be at the blame of God because in order to find true evil and imperfection the only place to look is within man.
Voltaire's poem carries the theme of being harsh and critical. Voltaire seems to attack Christians rather than God himself, saying that, while the innocent women and children of Lisbon suffer and die, the French Christians (Catholics, presumably) "celebrate", claiming that those people were punished for their crimes and sins and that God was ridding the earth of them. In relation to the Enlightenment, Voltaire questions the true kindness of a God who would do something like this, as well as His seemingly ignorant followers for praising Him after this disaster. As for Rousseau, his letter is obviously a direct attack of Voltaire. Rousseau says the blame for this catastrophic event should be placed on sinful and evil humans who, having built great cities packed tight with people, caused the enormous death toll. Rousseau claims that these unfortunate, yet rapid, deaths may have been a blessing; he uses personal experience to stress the burdens of living a sick and dying life. Overall, Rousseau criticizes Voltaire for not being solemn but rather critical in a time like this and tries to reason the benefits of this terrible event, such as an early entry into Heaven.
Rousseau Letter to Voltaire:
ReplyDelete"Everyone would have fled the first shock. How many unfornuates perished in this disaster through the desire to fetch their clothing, papers, or money?..."
Rousseau is putting the blame of so many deaths on the victims & not so much on the natural disaster. Because the desire to collect their belongings, the people missed the oppurtunity to live. Everything has a consequence & theirs was life changing.
Voltaire's Poem:
"What crime, what error did these children,
Crushed & bloodied on their mothers' breasts, commit?"
Voltaire is stating that the event was disasterous & that lives were taken when they should not have been. He uses the illusion of dead children to get people to pity the dead & perhaps help those who aren't as fornuate as the dead.
Rousseau is saying that there is no use writing about the event because it has no effect on the people who live in other parts of the world in some ways. He can also be writing because Voltaire told others to think & analyze about it in the poem; he can also be helping to start the discussion about the earthquake.
You could also say that Rousseau said "you only vex me. It might be said that you fear I don't feel my unhappiness enough, and you are trying to soothe me by proving all is bad." because he felt like Voltaire was putting too much thought into it almost. I think Rousseau was saying this to show that just because he didn't seem to be as upset he still understood the disastrous events.
DeleteRousseau's Letter to Voltaire:
ReplyDelete"it is not certain that a single one of these unfortunates suffered more than if, in the normal course of events, he had awaited [a more normal] death to overtake him after long agonies."
Rousseau is trying to down play how tragic all of the deaths were in this earthquake. He writes this as if to say "it could have been worse for these people and as far as i'm concerned they got off easy." Rousseau has no compassion for the people who have died, but he feels that everyone that survived has survived because it was the will of God.
Voltaire's Peom:
ReplyDelete"Oh, miserable mortals! Oh wretched earth!
Oh, dreadful assembly of all mankind!
Eternal sermon of useless sufferings!"
Throughout the poem, Voltaire is trying to show that the destruction caused by this earthquake was devastating and that the people who were killed had no reason to die. Also in this poem, he refutes future arguments that would say that the people deserved to die because God was trying to punish them for their crimes. he poses the question: "What crime, what error did these children...commit?" He is able to show that the people were completely helpless against this earthquake and didn't deserve to die.
Libby, this could relate to the Enlightenment because Voltaire is questioning God. He is saying that God killed these people for no reason & he is also showing how people think they have power, yet they don't when it comes to God.
DeleteKeep the focus on the Enlightenment and how these documents relate.
ReplyDeleteRousseau's and Voltaire's views over the earthquake differed intellectually as well as religiously. Rousseau denounces Voltaire's poem for simply being a lengthy expression of his unhappiness rather than a work supported by reason and evidence. The Enlightenment brought about the use of reason and evidence to support intellectual claims. Voltaire condemns the optimism of philosophers like Alexander Pope and Leibnitz in response to the earthquake in Lisbon. However, Rousseau supports the Enlightenment view of perpetual optimism by arguing that the philosophers' optimism makes people feel better and more hopeful about the situation, whereas Voltaire merely lists out the massive suffering of the people, making everyone feel worse. Voltaire also brings religion into his account of the suffering in Lisbon when he implies that God could have prevented this situation, but did not. Voltaire, as Rousseau points out in his letter, finds only evil on earth and finds it to contradict the supposed goodness of God. Rousseau, on the other hand, believes the Enlightenment view that that reason and instinct are a part of human nature. Therefore, Rousseau blames the death of the people on the selfish human instinct to not leave behind their belongings. He also uses reason to propose that the proximity of the homes could have led to more destruction during the earthquake, rather than turning to religion and blaming God. Rousseau's view reflects the turn towards secular thought during the Enlightenment period. Rousseau's line "...you revel, I hope, and hope beautifies everything," also reflects the Enlightenment movement towards the use of reason and hope to achieve natural law and therefore, to achieve progress and a better society.
ReplyDeleteIn his poem, Voltaire uses graphic imagery ( "crushed and bloody", "their smoking ashes", etc.) to intensify his disgust with the earthquake in Lisbon. In the spirit of the Enlightenment, he questions the authority and omnipresence of God, and blames the earthquake and the deaths that ensued on the possible lack of a "good" God. This earthquake had coincidentally struck Portugal, a strongly Catholic state, on an important church holiday. Voltaire also extends this blame to the monarchy in Portugal, which was filled with political tensions and power struggles, by saying "Did Lisbon, which is no more, have more vices, than London and Paris..." Enlightenment thinking often questioned the validity of political authority, and urged citizens to alter or lessen it if necessary. Conversely, Rousseau argues that the blame for the deaths caused by the earthquake is a result of the people's selfishness and value of material goods, rather than God. This demonstrates the Enlightenment's move towards reasoning through observation (which stemmed from the ideas of experimentation and inductive reasoning from the scientific revolution) as well as a movement from religious-based thinking to more secular thinking. He also argues that Voltaire's negative approach to reconciling this event is not necessary, and favors the more optimistic and hopeful accounts of Pope and Leibniz. This also demonstrates the increased value of optimism found in the Enlightenment period. As seen in the poem earlier, as well as in his satire Candide, Voltaire does not necessarily agree with this optimistic way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteVoltaire thinks of the earthquake in Portugal as devastating and destructive. It makes him upset and angry at God for letting this horrible disaster take place. He wonders why God would let this happen to young children, who died without reason. He also questions why the children would have to die without committing any crimes in which they would have paid for. Voltaire questions God's presence, and he wonders that if he is a "free and good" God, why he would allow these events to happen.
ReplyDeleteRousseau responds to Voltaire's letter and deems it as negative. Rousseau believes that the quick deaths of the citizens could be considered a blessing because it is worse to suffer. He says that Voltaire's poem prompts him to grumble, and it makes him angry to think Voltaire only sees the negative sides of the earthquake. Rousseau, however, almost makes the deaths of the earthquake seem less serious. He puts a positive tone on something that is highly depressing. Voltaire shows the realistic side of the events that happened, while Rousseau tries to cover up the tragedy that took place.
Voltaire speaks from anger: "Libson is destroyed and they dance in Paris!" showing how much of the more wealthy see events like this as not so big of a deal when in reality this was a catastrophic event. His poem was angered toward God who killed these people, but mostly as a defiant mark against the pompous, uncaring people.
ReplyDeleteRousseau spoke that the events could not be at the blame of God because in order to find true evil and imperfection the only place to look is within man.
Voltaire's poem carries the theme of being harsh and critical. Voltaire seems to attack Christians rather than God himself, saying that, while the innocent women and children of Lisbon suffer and die, the French Christians (Catholics, presumably) "celebrate", claiming that those people were punished for their crimes and sins and that God was ridding the earth of them. In relation to the Enlightenment, Voltaire questions the true kindness of a God who would do something like this, as well as His seemingly ignorant followers for praising Him after this disaster.
ReplyDeleteAs for Rousseau, his letter is obviously a direct attack of Voltaire. Rousseau says the blame for this catastrophic event should be placed on sinful and evil humans who, having built great cities packed tight with people, caused the enormous death toll. Rousseau claims that these unfortunate, yet rapid, deaths may have been a blessing; he uses personal experience to stress the burdens of living a sick and dying life. Overall, Rousseau criticizes Voltaire for not being solemn but rather critical in a time like this and tries to reason the benefits of this terrible event, such as an early entry into Heaven.
Jacob's Post