Voltaire

1694 - 1778 Renaissance French

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Biographical Core

François-Marie Arouet, known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, and historian renowned for his wit, criticism of the Catholic Church, advocacy for civil liberties including freedom of religion and speech, and defense of constitutional monarchy. He produced works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, and histories, and corresponded extensively with contemporary luminaries. Exiled from France multiple times for his provocative writings, Voltaire spent significant time in England and Switzerland, influencing the spread of Enlightenment ideas across Europe.

Debate Topology Note