Chapter VI: History

Extraordinary activity in historical composition in the
eighteenth century 295

Explanation of it 296

Circumstances under which Voltaire thought about the
philosophy of history 297

The three historical styles 299

Voltaire’s histories of two kinds 301

Rousseau’s disregard for history 302

Voltaire’s acute sense 303

His diligence in seeking authentic materials 305

Throws persons and personal interests into the second place 307

Changed view of the true subject matter of history 308

War always an object of Voltaire’s antipathy 311

His distrust of diplomacy 315

Bossuet’s Discourse on Universal History 316

Introduction to the Essay on Manners 318

Irrational disparagement of the Jews 319

Panegyric on the Emperor Julian 320

False view of the history of the church 322

Avoids the error of expressing barbarous activity in terms
of civilisation 323

Real merit of Voltaire’s panorama 325

He was not alive to the necessity of scientifically studying
the conditions of the social union 326