The Enlightenment (Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot)

1. Voltaire advocated for tolerance and reason. How do his strategies of persuasion differ in his various genres (philosophical tales, plays, essays)?

2. Rousseau argued that civilization corrupts natural goodness. How does this philosophy manifest in his autobiographical writings versus his political theory?

3. Diderot's work often explores the tension between determinism and free will. How does this philosophical problem drive his narratives?

4. These philosophes all faced censorship and exile. How did persecution shape their writing strategies and themes?

5. Compare their different approaches to religion. What alternatives to traditional faith do they propose?