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Voltaire on Liberty

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Published/Copyright: January 4, 2023

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.


Corresponding author: David Wootton, University of York, York, UK, E-mail:

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Received: 2022-12-09
Accepted: 2022-12-09
Published Online: 2023-01-04

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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