Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, was a French philosopher born in Paris in 1694. From a young age, he showed great promise and was sent by his father to the best school in Paris to begin his studies. He developed a passion for writing early on and pursued it as a career. It was during this time that he changed his name to Voltaire.

Voltaire held strong opinions on various aspects of life, including religion, science, politics, and literature. He delved deeply into these subjects and expressed his views through his works. In 1733, he published a book called 'Letters Concerning the English Nation.' In this book, he strategically criticized the French and almost faced imprisonment for his actions. Fortunately, many people found his ideas intriguing and supported him, allowing him to escape unscathed. He believed that religion, particularly the Catholic Church, was founded on manipulation and corruption, with the clergy misusing their power to control the masses. Of course, the Catholic Church strongly opposed these views, given their controversial nature. However, there was considerable traction among the population, which led to a healthy questioning of hierarchical power.

Voltaire emphasized the importance of challenging traditional authorities and constantly questioning those in positions of power. He believed in maintaining a level-headed and critical mindset at all times. He played a significant role in the development of the ideology of freedom of speech, creating a movement and providing a pathway for the masses to understand that just because some organizations hold power for a long time, it doesn't mean they are always right. He believed in the power of everyone having a voice, famously saying, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

He was a staunch advocate for individual freedoms and strongly expressed his beliefs regarding expression and belief systems for all. He believed in providing equal opportunities for everyone to acquire knowledge through education and encouraged individuals to strive to reach their greatest potential.

Voltaire's voice was powerful. He fought for equality for all people and envisioned a society based on reason, rationality, and unity for the greater good. His ideas on standing up for one's beliefs, recognizing that every person, regardless of the size of their voice, deserves to be heard, and encouraging everyone to strive for success, continue to resonate.

“If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticise”

Thanks,

Dean