Mug Voltaire - Revision history

RobertBushman: /* Hitchens */

2024-12-25T00:52:46Z

Hitchens

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:52, 25 December 2024
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	* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)		* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)
	* Hitchens wielded wit like a blade. "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."		* Hitchens wielded wit like a blade. "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."
	* Hitchens maniait l'esprit comme une lame. 'Ce qui peut être affirmé sans preuve peut également être rejeté sans preuve.'		* Hitchens maniait l'esprit comme une lame. « Ce qui peut être affirmé sans preuve peut également être rejeté sans preuve. »

	= GPT =		= GPT =

RobertBushman: /* Voltaire */

2024-12-24T22:06:03Z

Voltaire

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:06, 24 December 2024
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	* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.		* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.
	* Voltaire, maître de la raison satiric, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.		* Voltaire, maître de la raison satiric, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.
	* Voltaire, maître de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire ; exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.		* Voltaire, maître de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire; exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.

	== Hitchens ==		== Hitchens ==

RobertBushman: /* Voltaire */

2024-12-24T22:05:28Z

Voltaire

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:05, 24 December 2024
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	* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, défendu la liberté d'expression, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.		* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, défendu la liberté d'expression, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.
	* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.		* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.
			* Voltaire, maître de la raison satiric, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.
			* Voltaire, maître de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire ; exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.

	== Hitchens ==		== Hitchens ==

RobertBushman: /* Voltaire */

2024-12-24T21:48:58Z

Voltaire

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:48, 24 December 2024
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	* "Voltaire, a master of wit and reason, fought tyranny with satire, championed free speech, and was exiled, imprisoned, but never silenced."		* "Voltaire, a master of wit and reason, fought tyranny with satire, championed free speech, and was exiled, imprisoned, but never silenced."
	* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, défendu la liberté d'expression, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.		* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, défendu la liberté d'expression, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.
			* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.

	== Hitchens ==		== Hitchens ==

RobertBushman: /* Voltaire */

2024-12-24T21:47:38Z

Voltaire

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:47, 24 December 2024
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	== Voltaire ==		== Voltaire ==
	* "Voltaire, a master of wit and reason, fought tyranny with satire, championed free speech, and was exiled, imprisoned, but never silenced."		* "Voltaire, a master of wit and reason, fought tyranny with satire, championed free speech, and was exiled, imprisoned, but never silenced."
			* Voltaire, maître de l'esprit et de la raison, a combattu la tyrannie avec la satire, défendu la liberté d'expression, et a été exilé, emprisonné, mais jamais réduit au silence.

	== Hitchens ==		== Hitchens ==
	* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)		* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)

RobertBushman: /* To Press */

2024-12-24T21:41:01Z

To Press

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:41, 24 December 2024
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	[[Category:Mug People]]		[[Category:Mug People]]
	= To Press =		= To Press =
			* Pourriez-vous traduire ceci en francais, s'il vous plait?
	== Voltaire ==		== Voltaire ==
	* "Voltaire, a master of wit and reason, fought tyranny with satire, championed free speech, and was exiled, imprisoned, but never silenced."		* "Voltaire, a master of wit and reason, fought tyranny with satire, championed free speech, and was exiled, imprisoned, but never silenced."
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	* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)		* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)
	* Hitchens wielded wit like a blade. "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."		* Hitchens wielded wit like a blade. "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."
			* Hitchens maniait l'esprit comme une lame. 'Ce qui peut être affirmé sans preuve peut également être rejeté sans preuve.'

	= GPT =		= GPT =

RobertBushman: /* Hitchens */

2024-12-24T21:37:16Z

Hitchens

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 24 December 2024
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	== Hitchens ==		== Hitchens ==
	* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)		* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)
	* Hitchens wielded wit like a blade. ""		* Hitchens wielded wit like a blade. "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."

	= GPT =		= GPT =

RobertBushman: /* Hitchens */

2024-12-24T21:37:01Z

Hitchens

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 24 December 2024
Line 5:		Line 5:
	== Hitchens ==		== Hitchens ==
	* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)		* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)
			* Hitchens wielded wit like a blade. ""

	= GPT =		= GPT =
	== Voltaire ==		== Voltaire ==

RobertBushman at 21:36, 24 December 2024

2024-12-24T21:36:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:36, 24 December 2024
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	[[Category:Mug People]]		[[Category:Mug People]]
			= To Press =
			== Voltaire ==
			* "Voltaire, a master of wit and reason, fought tyranny with satire, championed free speech, and was exiled, imprisoned, but never silenced."
			== Hitchens ==
			* How I replied to GPT: Oooo - young, smouldering Christopher. Nice - I think he would approve (though he seemed pretty comfortable with his appearance as he aged, too)
	= GPT =		= GPT =
	== Voltaire ==		== Voltaire ==

RobertBushman: /* Those With Wit */

2024-12-18T19:24:25Z

Those With Wit

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:24, 18 December 2024
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	These short descriptions capture the essence of each thinker’s contributions, controversies, and provocations, much like a modern-day Voltaire would.		These short descriptions capture the essence of each thinker’s contributions, controversies, and provocations, much like a modern-day Voltaire would.
	== Those With Wit ==		== Those With Wit ==
			Yes, '''witty, playful, and funny approaches to weighty topics''' are a hallmark of Voltaire's style, and there are definitely '''contemporary Voltaire-likes''' who embody that spirit. While some of the figures mentioned earlier are incisive and provocative, not all of them lean into humor or playfulness. However, some of them—and a few others not yet mentioned—do share Voltaire’s wit, irony, and playful tone when tackling serious subjects.

			Here’s a list of contemporary intellectuals, writers, and thinkers who bring '''witty, playful, satirical energy''' to serious, weighty issues:
			----

			=== '''1. Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Razor-sharp wit, biting sarcasm, and brutal one-liners.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' Hitchens didn't just make weighty critiques—he made them '''hilarious'''. Whether dissecting religion, war, or politics, his clever quips and devastating logic cuts were as entertaining as they were insightful. He frequently quoted Voltaire and shared his admiration for the Enlightenment thinkers.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“If you gave Jerry Falwell an enema, you could bury him in a matchbox.”'''''(on televangelist Jerry Falwell)'''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Hitchens could go from high philosophical argument to a devastating joke in a single sentence, disarming his opponents while making the audience laugh.

			----

			=== '''2. Douglas Adams (1952–2001)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Absurdity, satire, wordplay, and playful existentialism.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' '''The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy''' series explores profound philosophical ideas about life, death, and meaning—all while being hilariously playful. His approach to human insignificance (like Voltaire’s "best of all possible worlds" satire in '''Candide''') is drenched in irony and comedy.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“The story so far: In the beginning, the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.”''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Adams's works are philosophical inquiries disguised as sci-fi farce, much like '''Candide''' is a philosophy lesson disguised as an adventure novel.

			----

			=== '''3. Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Dark satire, gallows humor, and playful cynicism.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' Vonnegut’s work is filled with '''satirical social critique'''. Like Voltaire, Vonnegut doesn’t just expose the absurdity of the human condition—he revels in it. '''Slaughterhouse-Five''' is a masterclass in tragicomedy, and his '''Kilgore Trout''' character is a modern echo of '''Pangloss'''—a figure whose ridiculous views expose the absurdity of idealistic thinking.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.”''(from '''Slaughterhouse-Five''') or ''“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”''(from '''Mother Night''')</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Like '''Candide''', Vonnegut's protagonists wander through a series of bizarre misadventures, facing suffering and absurdity at every turn. His use of '''“So it goes”''' every time someone dies is as playful as it is nihilistic.

			----

			=== '''4. Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Pure wit, biting irony, and aphoristic one-liners.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' Wilde isn’t "contemporary," but his spirit is '''Voltaire incarnate'''. His plays, especially '''The Importance of Being Earnest''', are '''philosophical farces'''. Wilde skewered Victorian hypocrisy much like Voltaire skewered French absolutism. His genius for '''one-liners''' makes him feel even more Voltairean.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”''or ''“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Wilde's entire output could be considered a playful critique of '''human vanity and hypocrisy''', the same target Voltaire took aim at.

			----

			=== '''5. Terry Pratchett (1948–2015)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Satire, parody, fantasy-comedy, and playful philosophy.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' Pratchett’s '''Discworld''' series blends social critique with farcical humor. Much like '''Candide''', his works challenge power, religion, and human stupidity. The Discworld city of '''Ankh-Morpork''' functions as a mirror for all of human society’s follies, from authoritarian rule to religious fanaticism.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.”''or ''“The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they’ve found it.”''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Pratchett builds entire worlds to make satirical points, much like Voltaire’s playful destruction of utopian optimism in '''Candide'''.

			----

			=== '''6. Fran Lebowitz (1950–)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Biting, sarcastic wit.
			* '''Why She's Like Voltaire:''' Lebowitz’s entire public persona is based on '''acerbic social critique'''. She skewers modern excess, consumerism, and the idiocy of polite society in much the same way Voltaire mocked the '''nobility, clergy, and intellectuals''' of his time.
			* '''Example of Her Wit:'''<blockquote>''“If you’re a Republican, it’s not that I disagree with you. It’s that I think you have a mental illness.”''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Lebowitz’s public speeches, interviews, and TV shows embody Voltairean '''comedic defiance'''. She often delivers truths with brutal clarity and absolute irreverence.

			----

			=== '''7. George Carlin (1937–2008)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Stand-up satire, subversion, and raw truth-telling.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' Carlin '''mocked everything—especially power, religion, and hypocrisy'''. Like Voltaire, he wielded humor as a tool of critique and philosophical inquiry. His classic takedowns of '''"The American Dream"''' and '''"Words You Can’t Say on TV"''' are as timeless as Voltaire’s critiques of France’s aristocracy.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Carlin never spared an opportunity to '''question authority''' and expose absurdity through jokes, much like '''Candide'''’s journey reveals the cruelty of fate and power.

			----

			=== '''8. John Oliver (1977–)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Satirical news commentary.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' '''Last Week Tonight''' is a modern platform for '''satirical takedowns of power'''. Oliver’s show is essentially '''Candide with PowerPoints''', exposing hypocrisy and corruption using humor and absurdity to make complex issues digestible.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“The Vatican is basically the world's largest Boys & Girls Club, but with way more boys and way fewer girls.”''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Like Voltaire, Oliver blends '''comedy with critique''', showing how ridiculous our world can be.

			----

			=== '''9. Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)''' ===

			* '''Style of Humor:''' Satire, irony, deadpan mischief.
			* '''Why He's Like Voltaire:''' '''Gulliver’s Travels''' is a playful philosophical critique of human nature. It’s '''Candide with giants and talking horses'''. Swift's pamphlet, '''A Modest Proposal''', is pure Voltairean irony, as it proposes eating babies to "solve" overpopulation.
			* '''Example of His Wit:'''<blockquote>''“I have been assured by a very knowing American… that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food.”''</blockquote>
			* '''Playful Approach:''' Swift and Voltaire both excel in presenting grim reality as '''outrageous parody''', forcing readers to confront '''horrific truths through laughter'''.

			----

			=== '''Conclusion''' ===
			If you’re looking for '''playful yet profound satire''', '''Terry Pratchett''', '''Douglas Adams''', and '''Kurt Vonnegut''' are closest to Voltaire’s comedic style. For sharp, witty repartee, think '''Oscar Wilde''', '''George Carlin''', and '''Fran Lebowitz'''. If you want '''Candide-like journeys''' into absurdity, head straight to '''Douglas Adams''' and '''Terry Pratchett'''.