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Voltaire
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This chapter highlights Jean-Jacques Rousseau's letter to Voltaire on September 7, 1755. Rousseau had a copy of the
Second Discourse
sent to Voltaire, who responded with a letter that began, “I have received, sir, your new book against the human race.” He joked that reading the
Discourse
made him want to revert to walking on all fours. Voltaire quickly had this response to Rousseau published, asking for Rousseau's permission only after the fact. Rousseau begins his letter by expressing his gratitude to Voltaire. He then acknowledges the ills attached to humanity, saying that “all men's ills come far more from error than ignorance, and that what we do not know at all harms us far less than what we believe we know”.
Title: Voltaire
Description:
This chapter highlights Jean-Jacques Rousseau's letter to Voltaire on September 7, 1755.
Rousseau had a copy of the
Second Discourse
sent to Voltaire, who responded with a letter that began, “I have received, sir, your new book against the human race.
” He joked that reading the
Discourse
made him want to revert to walking on all fours.
Voltaire quickly had this response to Rousseau published, asking for Rousseau's permission only after the fact.
Rousseau begins his letter by expressing his gratitude to Voltaire.
He then acknowledges the ills attached to humanity, saying that “all men's ills come far more from error than ignorance, and that what we do not know at all harms us far less than what we believe we know”.
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