A “classical” materialism Voltaire and his Letter on Locke
- Publication type: Journal article
- Journal: Libertinage et philosophie à l’époque classique (xvie-xviiie siècle)
2021, n° 18. L’usage de la métaphysique chez les matérialistes des xvie, xviie et xviiie siècles - Authors: McKenna (Antony), Mori (Gianluca)
- Pages: 251 to 273
- Journal: Libertinism and Philosophy in the Classical Period (16th-18th Century)
Voltaire reads Locke through Bayle's spectacles. The materialism in the Lettre sur Locke is founded on Descartes's Meditations and Mersenne's objections as presented by Bayle and Bayle's conclusions are then allied with the principles of Newton's empiricism and with Locke's declaration on our ignorance of the nature of substances: Voltaire then declares, not without reason, that his materialism is «what Locke really thought but didn't dare to say».
- CLIL theme: 3126 -- SCIENCES HUMAINES ET SOCIALES, LETTRES -- Philosophie
- ISBN: 978-2-406-12209-8
- EAN: 9782406122098
- ISSN: 2649-1826
- DOI: 10.48611/isbn.978-2-406-12209-8.p.0251
- Publisher: Classiques Garnier
- Online publication: 10-06-2021
- Periodicity: Annual
- Language: French
- Keyword: soul, materialism, animals, Locke, Newton, Descartes, Mersenne, Bayle, Toland
