Philosophical Dictionary

This work by Voltaire was a collection of satirical essays and aphorisms that covered a wide range of philosophical and social topics encouraging people to think for themselves. The work was important because it challenged traditional religious and philosophical beliefs, and argued for the importance of reason and individual liberty in society. The 18th century Enlightenment had a mania for creating ultimate dictionaries- Rousseau, Diderot and others created their own.. The one Voltaire christened Dictionnaire philosophique portatif in 1764 was a particular kind of dictionary: polemic replaced objectivity, dialogue supplanted definition, philosophy mingled with criticism of religions and fanaticism. True to form, Voltaire combines his incredible erudition with a healthy dose of humor, satire and irony to make his fight against the "Infâme" effective and enjoyable.