Voltaire | Letters on England-Politics, Philosophy, Science | Philosophers Explained | Stephen Hicks

"The English are the only people upon earth who have been able to prescribe limits to the power of kings by resisting them..."

François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), who later came to call himself Voltaire, was an intellectual of the French Enlightenment. He was most famous for being the author of "Candide," which is still widely read to this day.

He expressed his love of the tolerant English system of government and his criticism of French government in his "Letters on England." In these later letters, Voltaire discusses how England has done what no people elsewhere have been able to do: limit the power of kings. He also praises their economic policies as well as their use of science for purposes of public health.

The text can be found here: https://www.stephenhicks.org/wp-conte...

Timestamps:
00:43 The text. Letter XIII: On the Parliament
01:40 Limit the power of kings
02:43 Letter IX: Separation of Powers
03:49 All must pay taxes
04:42 Letter X: Trade
07:02 The French look down on tradesmen
08:48 Letter XI: On Inoculation
12:41 Letter XII: On Lord Bacon
16:22 Francis Bacon
17:54 Isaac Newton
19:16 Letter XIII On John Locke
23:34 Letter XIV: On Newton & Descartes
26:30 Letter XVIII: On Tragedy: Shakespeare

Philosophers, Explained covers major philosophers and texts, especially the great classics. In each episode, Professor Hicks discusses an important work, doing a close reading that lasts 40 minutes to an hour.

The playlist of current videos can found here:    • Philosophers Explained  

Stephen R. C. Hicks, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University, USA, and has had visiting positions at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., University of Kasimir the Great in Poland, Oxford University’s Harris Manchester College in England, and Jagiellonian University in Poland.

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Explaining Postmodernism audiobook:    • Explaining Postmodernism by Stephen H...  
Nietzsche and the Nazis audiobook:    • Nietzsche and the Nazis by Stephen R....  

Playlists:

Education Theory:    • Education Theory  
Entrepreneurship and Values:    • Entrepreneurship and Values Series  
Nietzsche:    • Nietzsche