The Age of Enlightenment: Voltaire
Voltaire was a prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment, and he was part of a larger intellectual circle that included other philosophers and thinkers of the time. Some of Voltaire's contemporaries and friends included Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot, and Benjamin Franklin.
Rousseau was a philosopher and writer who was known for his ideas on the social contract, which argued that people have a natural right to freedom and that governments should be based on the consent of the governed. He was also interested in education and wrote a book called Emile that discussed the best ways to educate children.
Diderot was an editor and writer who is best known for his work on the Encyclopédie, a comprehensive encyclopedia that aimed to summarize all knowledge of the time. The Encyclopédie was a massive project that took many years to complete and was controversial because it included articles on controversial topics like religion and politics.
Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman, scientist, and writer who was also part of the Enlightenment intellectual circle. He is best known for his experiments with electricity and his role in drafting the United States Constitution.
Overall, Voltaire's contemporaries and friends were a diverse group of thinkers who shared an interest in advancing knowledge and promoting social and political reform. They worked together to challenge traditional ways of thinking and to promote new ideas and perspectives.
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