Philosophy Dictionary (Volume 1 and 2) Ping (Chinese Translation of Famous Works)

Author: Voltaire (French), translated by Wang Yansheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Voltaire (1694–1778) was a renowned philosopher, writer, and a leading figure of the 18th-century French Enlightenment movement, representing the Encyclopedist school. Dictionnaire philosophique was published anonymously in 1764 and is one of his major works. The original book embodies the rationalist principles of the French Encyclopedist movement, delivering fierce attacks and critiques on the political, social, and religious conditions of France at the time, leading to its prohibition by the authoritarian authorities. The Chinese translation selects and translates 100 key entries, reflecting the author's philosophical thoughts on deism and empiricism, while highlighting his exposure and critique of the feudal system and its spiritual pillar, the Catholic Church. The main features of this book are two: First, it prominently opposes Christianity, especially Catholicism, condemning the ignorance, superstition, and persecution of the innocent brought about by religious fanaticism; second, it emphasizes rationalist philosophical thought, asserting that only this mindset, which starts from reasonable reason, can bring a glimmer of hope to humanity. Reading this book, and learning from Voltaire's approach to problem-solving—focusing on reasonable reason, free from inherent biases, exploring truth, and the spirit of facing reality to fight for ideals—can be beneficial for us to better understand reality, seek truth, and take reasonable actions.