Voltaire’s battle for free thought isn’t just history-it’s a reminder of the fights that still matter today. His defiance in the face of censorship, his wit against dogma, and his unwavering defence of reason resonate now more than ever. If you believe these stories are worth telling, please consider supporting the channel. Videos like this take extensive research and time, and while they may not be algorithm-friendly, I believe they’re vital. Every share, comment, and discussion helps keep these ideas alive-so let’s keep the conversation going!
@@waynerobertson511 oh. Wise master. Teach me more wisdom about how to rip off all human artists so i can use the annual carbon emissions of honduras to produce a short film with precisely zero merit.
Never since my ancient philosophy class in college have I found myself so captivated by the stories of these figures. Whatever numbers and analytics these videos get, please know there is an audience here who receives endless value from these stories of our intellectual forerunners.
What is ultimate truth though that s what I want to know. That to me is of the highest value . so what is it can you let me know so that I can follow it. Does it exist for you.
Outstanding. I'm thrilled to see you providing historically accurate biographies (albeit brief) of the people who risked their lives to free us from the religious dark ages. Thank you.
@@danaplaczek9664 Hitchens? Lol Anyway, I don't think he brings up the fact that Voltaire promoted absolute monarchy, or that he promoted anti-Semitic ideas, that he may have promoted other racist ideas (Scholars disagree), that he supported Fredrick the Great (Until Fredrick turned on Voltaire) and Catherine the Great, that his support for religious tolerance was clearly influenced by a cultural sentiment that initially started as a response to inter-Christian conflict, or any harm that demonstrably came from enlightenment ideas like his. Similarly, in his video on Percy Shelley he fails to mention all the starving babies (All of whom died iirc) that he left in his wake because he refused to take responsibility for the results of his sexual libertinism. All of this is common knowledge and easy to look up. Notice how you didn't ask Woodford for sources, though?
@@Glass-io9bq Okay, Glass thanks for the heads up. I will do my due diligence to understand what Voltaire's negatives actually were. I know he was at Frederick the Great'a court and residence, the Sanssouci and they had some kind of kerfuffle, after which he left.
Mr. Woodford. This is the most inspiring thing I've seen in a very long time. I really didn't know about the story of Voltaire, but I do now. Thank you, good sir!
In case someone would want to read Voltaire's works, I'd recommend to start with Candide. It's in my opinion a very funny book, where he ruthlessly mocks the idea, that God made the best possible world. I went to a French high school and this book was my favorite mandatory reading I had.
@@JHimminyhe had a critique of Optimism by Leibniz, I think he understood his ideas well enough but that's not the point - Candide is a marvelous book, a mixture of philosophy and kinda Indiana Jones
Thanks! Very interesting, educational and informative. Such a pleasant way for me to fill the gaps in my knowledge of history and philosophy. More like this, please!
I knew almost nothing about Voltaire's life, and this gave me such a new appreciation for him - especially the "atrocities" quote we see everywhere. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this educating video highlighting what Voltaire did for the western civilization! If I am allowed one minor recommendation, I would suggest that you upload proper English subtitles for us foreigners that have a bit of difficulty with some words in your exquisite vocabulary and also it would help us a lot with the French names (seeing them in writing allows us to be able to search the names mentioned further). Thank you again for your content!
The lottery he won was run by Casanova. Voltaire figured out the mathematical flaw and exploited it. Casanova's memoirs are an excellent read, and include a recounting of a discussion between him and Voltaire.
Because that “love” is conditional. And the condition required is that an individual subscribe to certain dogmas and creeds to be deserving of that “love.” That’s why neither Catholics or Protestants were particularly tolerant of individuals who deviated from the orthodox positions. Just look how the Anabaptists were treated.
Well, that's easy. God agrees with them, not the other. If the other says something they don't like, God doesn't agree (because God only agrees with them), and the other is now speaking out against God. We've seen this play out time and time again. And it doesn't have to be God. Take a look at modern day MAGA. If you don't fall into line with what they say and what they think, you're automatically the enemy. You're a communist or someone who does awful things to children or you hate your country. The fact that none of those are true simply doesn't matter. They have declared it to be so, and they cannot be wrong.
Congratulations for the narration, I like this historical format a lot, explaining not just the work of the author but how it derives from his life and his context, and how his context received it.
While revolution in the West resulted in revering their deceased intellectuals, in the Middle East, after the revolution, they desecrated the grave of an 11th century atheist Arab philosopher called Al Ma’arri. There is absolutely no hope that my people will rise in near future 😞
Wow! I have a new secular hero. I read "Candide" on your recommendation, and I fully endorse your recommendation. Thank you Steve.
5 วันที่ผ่านมา +31
"Faith is all that remains once you replace evidence with emotion." Bertrand Russell 💙 “In America there is a sucker born every minute.” J.P Barnum 💙 "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." Blaise Pascal 💙 “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can also make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire 💙 “Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people." Heinrich Heine 💙 "When the world appears to be most insane, we can't go inside and hide and let the jackals eat up the orchards." Tennessee Williams 💙
This is amazing!! Captivating story-telling and an excellent reminder of how precarious our freedom of speech and thought. (-signed, a concerned American)
Thank you for the video telling Voltaire's story, really appreciate a look into the life of one of Reason's great champions. So much I didn't know about Voltaire, now I need to go add him to my pile of books to read!
I love these historical videos. They should be seen by many, regardless of whether they're fans of yours. I look forward to many more. I can't wait until you do one on my man Thomas Paine. I know it's coming.
He published the works of my second favorite atheist Jean Meslier, but censored him to sound like a deist, as he thought wider France wasn't ready for his, "the bible is a joke, why are Jesus' parables so clumsy, they aren't nearly as good as Aesop's Fables," atheism. He was a priest who read his bible and was all, "Hold on a second, what?" and wrote a book to be found in his papers when he died in 1727, pre-enlightenment, tearing the whole thing down, and every other religion.
Excellent work! I think you should do more of these. Many people have little idea of Voltaire's contributions to our modern world and we need to push back religious ignorance.
I've been an occasional watcher, we share like beliefs as far as religion is concerned, as for your new direction; History, Philosophy......etc. I'm totally with it! Keep touching these subjects! I'd love to watch your take on philosophers.
This is such a wonderful video. I'm truly impressed and the quality of this one in particular. This is going down as one of my all time favorite youtube videos. I love the biographic story telling of one of my personal all time favorite philosophers of the enlightenment. Once part with the quote on his deathbed truly moved me and made me cry - and in the very last seconds of his life, he still emphasized empathy and a rejection of superstition. That man is a courageous hero and deserves the fame. His works are truly resonating with the secular and rational soul
Agree. 🥰🥰 As a graphic designer and illustrator, this is the way to use Ai . It was very skillfully art-directed so I applaud whoever accomplished this.
Another excellent video. A nice mention of John Toland. And no, he was not executed or imprisoned; but driven out of Ireland and spent most of the rest of his life in London after his publication of "Christianity not Mysterious".
The animations you provide to go along with your narrative are superb RR, I don't know how or who does them, but they truly are wonderful to watch and enhance the narration. Thank you so much.
Great work! And you got through it without once mentioning Candide. Yes, still my favorite Voltaire. Worked on a screenplay version of the Bernstein musical for years. I changed Voltaire’s anabaptist for the sake of concision. He finds Candide passed out in a ditch after the Bulgar attack and revives him with a cup of water. “Oh,” Candide says, “you’re a Christian.” “Thanks, but I’m an atheist,” says the other. “But you’re so good!” “Market’s not cornered.”
On his deathbed, the priest asked Voltaire if "he renounces Satan and his works", to which he replied: “this is no time to make a new enemy !" Thanks for the video, Stephen !
Just adding my voice to the support for your efforts lending your voice to the telling of this important figure and his place in the development of free-thought. Well done, sire! (liked the AI geometric style for the animations too)!
Voltaire’s battle for free thought isn’t just history-it’s a reminder of the fights that still matter today. His defiance in the face of censorship, his wit against dogma, and his unwavering defence of reason resonate now more than ever.
If you believe these stories are worth telling, please consider supporting the channel. Videos like this take extensive research and time, and while they may not be algorithm-friendly, I believe they’re vital. Every share, comment, and discussion helps keep these ideas alive-so let’s keep the conversation going!
Love the channel. That looks like AI animation though? I would struggle to support that.
Loved the vid/topic/story ❤❤❤ Very nice selection!
@@paulmitchell9975 Use AI as a tool. But, don't let it be your master.
@@waynerobertson511 oh. Wise master. Teach me more wisdom about how to rip off all human artists so i can use the annual carbon emissions of honduras to produce a short film with precisely zero merit.
Love the new format.
Great timing and video! Working on a large video that stretches over this same time period, very nice to have this background
It’s the man! 🫨, big fan Erica. You helped me break free of YEC. Thank you for all you do. The facepalming must get exhausting I’m sure 🤦♂️❤
Hello my lovely and very gentle ape!
Never since my ancient philosophy class in college have I found myself so captivated by the stories of these figures. Whatever numbers and analytics these videos get, please know there is an audience here who receives endless value from these stories of our intellectual forerunners.
Looks like right now, this gets a view approximately every two seconds.
This!❤
Absolutely agree!
💯
What is ultimate truth though that s what I want to know. That to me is of the highest value . so what is it can you let me know so that I can follow it. Does it exist for you.
Voltaire was supposedly visited by a priest on his death bed and urged to renounce Satan. His response: "Now is no time to be making new enemies.". 😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏🥰🥰
never heard that one before! burst out laughing reading that
most epic reply ever
Honestly entirely on brand for him
Probably never happened but a good story.
@@wilhelmvonn9619 So much of history is apocryphal. Don't know if it's true.
Outstanding. I'm thrilled to see you providing historically accurate biographies (albeit brief) of the people who risked their lives to free us from the religious dark ages.
Thank you.
@@soonerarrow You really don't realize that this is myth-building? Lol
@@Glass-io9bqpoint out the myths/inaccuracies
@@Glass-io9bq LOL back at you! Unless you provide examples of alleged myth-building with sources, I invoke Hitchen's Razor to dismiss your assertion.
@@danaplaczek9664 Hitchens? Lol
Anyway, I don't think he brings up the fact that Voltaire promoted absolute monarchy, or that he promoted anti-Semitic ideas, that he may have promoted other racist ideas (Scholars disagree), that he supported Fredrick the Great (Until Fredrick turned on Voltaire) and Catherine the Great, that his support for religious tolerance was clearly influenced by a cultural sentiment that initially started as a response to inter-Christian conflict, or any harm that demonstrably came from enlightenment ideas like his.
Similarly, in his video on Percy Shelley he fails to mention all the starving babies (All of whom died iirc) that he left in his wake because he refused to take responsibility for the results of his sexual libertinism.
All of this is common knowledge and easy to look up. Notice how you didn't ask Woodford for sources, though?
@@Glass-io9bq Okay, Glass thanks for the heads up. I will do my due diligence to understand what Voltaire's negatives actually were. I know he was at Frederick the Great'a court and residence, the Sanssouci and they had some kind of kerfuffle, after which he left.
Mr. Woodford. This is the most inspiring thing I've seen in a very long time. I really didn't know about the story of Voltaire, but I do now. Thank you, good sir!
Ah Voltaire, the man with the french drip and the egg noodle hair!
😁
@SirSicCrusader
Vicious, nay legendary, drip 💯
And the smirk that terrified the "high and mighty"
Epic rap battle of history
he did give ladies the beef franks
It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere - Voltaire.
👏👏🥰🥰
Said the chained fool.
In case someone would want to read Voltaire's works, I'd recommend to start with Candide. It's in my opinion a very funny book, where he ruthlessly mocks the idea, that God made the best possible world. I went to a French high school and this book was my favorite mandatory reading I had.
Isn’t it basically regarded that Voltaire did not understand Leibniz?
@@JHimminyhe had a critique of Optimism by Leibniz, I think he understood his ideas well enough but that's not the point - Candide is a marvelous book, a mixture of philosophy and kinda Indiana Jones
17:52 _"She was everything the Catholic church feared - a woman!"_ 😂
Thanks! Very interesting, educational and informative. Such a pleasant way for me to fill the gaps in my knowledge of history and philosophy. More like this, please!
I knew almost nothing about Voltaire's life, and this gave me such a new appreciation for him - especially the "atrocities" quote we see everywhere. Thank you.
Same here.
Magnificent episode. Congratulations to you and your team.
Thank you so much for making this very informative and important video! I shared it on Twitter. Long live Voltaire and everything he stood for!
Thank you so much for this educating video highlighting what Voltaire did for the western civilization! If I am allowed one minor recommendation, I would suggest that you upload proper English subtitles for us foreigners that have a bit of difficulty with some words in your exquisite vocabulary and also it would help us a lot with the French names (seeing them in writing allows us to be able to search the names mentioned further). Thank you again for your content!
Ah swell, now I have another stop when I get my time machine working!
Great work, thank you!
I think this is the best video you have made, really informative and captivating to watch.
This was FANTASTIC!!! More of this please!
"Those who can be persuaded to believe in absurdities can be made to commit atrocities." - Voltaire (paraphrased)
And you can see it live in the US right now.
... and then the French Revolution happened and proved him right.
@@IkarusKommt As opposed to the Church which had been proving him right for hundreds of years?
@@hughanquetil2567 The Church provided peace in Europe for centuries.
The Reason brought centrury-long wars culminating in WW2.
@@IkarusKommt Only vast ignorance could lead you to make such a statement.
The lottery he won was run by Casanova. Voltaire figured out the mathematical flaw and exploited it.
Casanova's memoirs are an excellent read, and include a recounting of a discussion between him and Voltaire.
So, he didn't just win a lottery, he hacked it. That's awesome!
I just don't get how they claim that their god is about love and then hold so much hatred for others who are different.
Because that “love” is conditional. And the condition required is that an individual subscribe to certain dogmas and creeds to be deserving of that “love.” That’s why neither Catholics or Protestants were particularly tolerant of individuals who deviated from the orthodox positions. Just look how the Anabaptists were treated.
@@JudasMaccabeus1 It's all identity politics and a desire for power.
The best expression of love is protecting those whom you love.
They love them to death!
Well, that's easy. God agrees with them, not the other. If the other says something they don't like, God doesn't agree (because God only agrees with them), and the other is now speaking out against God.
We've seen this play out time and time again. And it doesn't have to be God. Take a look at modern day MAGA. If you don't fall into line with what they say and what they think, you're automatically the enemy. You're a communist or someone who does awful things to children or you hate your country. The fact that none of those are true simply doesn't matter. They have declared it to be so, and they cannot be wrong.
It’s a good time to lean more about Voltaire. It’s actually a good time for any enlightened thinker with all the darkness around right now.
“What are you, woke?” /s
@@Kelley_X You just proved his point, lol.
Bravo. A timely and important story, well told and beautifully illustrated.
Congratulations for the narration, I like this historical format a lot, explaining not just the work of the author but how it derives from his life and his context, and how his context received it.
Well that explains why he's made out to be an enemy of the church... Thank you for this wonderful explanation!
I had heard of Voltaire before but never really known about his life. Thank you for this enlightning video.
He is one of France's heroes. In that select group you also have Victor Hugo, he is also a truly amazing man.
Beautiful essay, thank you!
Outstanding graphical animation!
thank you for bringing us this spectacular legacy on the trumph of reason and decency.
Always a brave woman ahead of all men .😊
❤Emily .😊
Oh... this was a treat to watch. I'm sending it to my friends and family.
While revolution in the West resulted in revering their deceased intellectuals, in the Middle East, after the revolution, they desecrated the grave of an 11th century atheist Arab philosopher called Al Ma’arri. There is absolutely no hope that my people will rise in near future 😞
Thanks!
Voltaire gave us the gift of critical thinking.
Excellent video. Thank you. I like things like this that inspire me to go and find out more.
Incredibly concise and informative. Thanks for giving us this insight; it’s a gift.
Wow! I have a new secular hero.
I read "Candide" on your recommendation, and I fully endorse your recommendation.
Thank you Steve.
"Faith is all that remains once you replace evidence with emotion."
Bertrand Russell 💙
“In America there is a sucker born every minute.”
J.P Barnum 💙
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal 💙
“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can also make you commit atrocities.”
Voltaire 💙
“Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people."
Heinrich Heine 💙
"When the world appears to be most insane, we can't go inside and hide and let the jackals eat up the orchards."
Tennessee Williams 💙
Congratulations, this may very well be your finest work to date!!! Sensational!!!
Absolutely amazing video!
This is amazing!! Captivating story-telling and an excellent reminder of how precarious our freedom of speech and thought. (-signed, a concerned American)
Love the animation in this video!
Excellent. You are amazing and produce a desire to know more.
Well done! ❤
Thank you for the video telling Voltaire's story, really appreciate a look into the life of one of Reason's great champions. So much I didn't know about Voltaire, now I need to go add him to my pile of books to read!
I love these historical videos. They should be seen by many, regardless of whether they're fans of yours. I look forward to many more. I can't wait until you do one on my man Thomas Paine. I know it's coming.
ditto
He published the works of my second favorite atheist Jean Meslier, but censored him to sound like a deist, as he thought wider France wasn't ready for his, "the bible is a joke, why are Jesus' parables so clumsy, they aren't nearly as good as Aesop's Fables," atheism.
He was a priest who read his bible and was all, "Hold on a second, what?" and wrote a book to be found in his papers when he died in 1727, pre-enlightenment, tearing the whole thing down, and every other religion.
Project 2025 is working hard to put Voltaire's toothpaste back in the tube. Can they?
It's gonna be messy and they're gonna lose more than it's worth.
Not even all of the GOP will stand for it. They can try, but the pendulum will swing back.
Not when people have tasted what freedom is like...
I hope so. Jesus Christ is King.
@@TessaDebra-jo6cs now tell us what said king is going to do to everyone who doesn't believe the fairy tales about him.
Damn. This is so well done. I’ve already sent it to a few friends. Brilliant!
Excellent work! I think you should do more of these. Many people have little idea of Voltaire's contributions to our modern world and we need to push back religious ignorance.
Very well timed. Thanks, this was informative.
I've been an occasional watcher, we share like beliefs as far as religion is concerned, as for your new direction; History, Philosophy......etc. I'm totally with it! Keep touching these subjects! I'd love to watch your take on philosophers.
I can not abide the AI
I mean I have loved this channel for a long time and many seem to love the video but I can not stomach the AI stuff.
That's fine. I liked it. Out of interest what would you have preferred?
I love these. Thank you so much for these looks at free thinkers. Well Done.
This was a pure masterpiece in presentation and subject.
Outstanding.
LOVE this video! Amazing work!
This is such a wonderful video. I'm truly impressed and the quality of this one in particular. This is going down as one of my all time favorite youtube videos. I love the biographic story telling of one of my personal all time favorite philosophers of the enlightenment. Once part with the quote on his deathbed truly moved me and made me cry - and in the very last seconds of his life, he still emphasized empathy and a rejection of superstition. That man is a courageous hero and deserves the fame. His works are truly resonating with the secular and rational soul
This is excellent work 👍
Informative, educational, entertaining. What's not to like? Brilliant, thank you.
These in-depth videos are true master-strokes, congratulations on your continuing hard work.
Great video 🔥🔥
I love this channel. RR has helped me become a better critical thinker, secular humanist and enlightened individual.
I love the AI polygonal art you've chosen for your presentations.
I like the graphic design of this video 😊❤
Agree. 🥰🥰 As a graphic designer and illustrator, this is the way to use Ai . It was very skillfully art-directed so I applaud whoever accomplished this.
Another excellent video. A nice mention of John Toland. And no, he was not executed or imprisoned; but driven out of Ireland and spent most of the rest of his life in London after his publication of "Christianity not Mysterious".
Ths was great! I hope that you will be able to cover the life and ideas of other thinkers as well, such as Jean Meslier, David Hume, etc.
Beautifully written, spoken, and illustrated! Thank you.
Wonderful video. Cant imagine this having its place on tv for everyone to see.
Thank you! Once again, I've learned a lot from your video. Great job!
Fun storytelling of a great man. Truly one of the greats.
Great video.
The animations you provide to go along with your narrative are superb RR, I don't know how or who does them, but they truly are wonderful to watch and enhance the narration. Thank you so much.
These biographies are really excellently done.
A new Rationality Rules video? All's for the best in the best of all possible worlds!
Among your best; thanks
I'm loving the format shift. You've changed so much yet it still feels like the channel. Kudos on the choice and the execution.
Thank you. Just. Thank you.
One of the very rare few I have to praise. Nice angle on describing his life and effect on society. Good job.
Thank you for this! Love the animations.
Good stuff. Thank you
Great work! And you got through it without once mentioning Candide. Yes, still my favorite Voltaire. Worked on a screenplay version of the Bernstein musical for years. I changed Voltaire’s anabaptist for the sake of concision. He finds Candide passed out in a ditch after the Bulgar attack and revives him with a cup of water. “Oh,” Candide says, “you’re a Christian.” “Thanks, but I’m an atheist,” says the other. “But you’re so good!” “Market’s not cornered.”
This was a riveting vid thanks, woody
Great input.
Beautiful video😮
This was an incredibly well done and informative video. Thank you
Wonderful class! Thank you.
Awesome. High quality learning over here. TY.
This video is just a gem that thanks for the narration 🙏
Would love to see this become a regular series on this channel.
I have developed a habit of blocking channels that use ai video elements, but, of course this is Rationality Rules and is granted special dispensation
Loved this! Well written and well produced. Love the fresh animation. Very cool. 💯💯
On his deathbed, the priest asked Voltaire if "he renounces Satan and his works", to which he replied: “this is no time to make a new enemy !"
Thanks for the video, Stephen !
Loving the visual graphics
Great work! Maybe make one about Holbach as well.
awesome work man!
cheers
I appreciate your work immensely. The new art is beautiful. But your topics and depictions are still the highlight.
Great video! I would watch a million more like this!
Just adding my voice to the support for your efforts lending your voice to the telling of this important figure and his place in the development of free-thought. Well done, sire! (liked the AI geometric style for the animations too)!
This I can listen at 1.0 speed. Masterpiece I can say
Bernstein's 1988 Candide brought me here.
The US could certainly use a modern Voltaire right now.