Podcast Summary: "Voltaire with Dr. Eleanor Janega"

Podcast Title: This Guy Sucked
Host: Dr. Claire Aubin
Episode: Voltaire with Dr. Eleanor Janega
Release Date: March 20, 2025

Overview:
In the premiere episode of "This Guy Sucked," hosted by historian Dr. Claire Aubin and featuring medieval historian Dr. Eleanor Janega, the duo delves into the controversial legacy of the Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. This in-depth discussion challenges the traditional reverence accorded to Voltaire, exposing his myriad flaws and hypocrisies that undermine his contributions to civil liberties and rational thought.

Setting the Stage: Voltaire's Traditional Legacy

Dr. Janega begins by outlining Voltaire's standing in history. As one of the leading figures of the French Enlightenment, Voltaire is celebrated for his prolific output—writing 20,000 letters and 2,000 books and pamphlets. He is renowned for advocating civil liberties, his satirical works like "Candide," and his vehement criticism of the Catholic Church. His famous quote, “I do not agree with a word you’re saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” exemplifies his stance on freedom of speech and has cemented his reputation as a champion of liberal thought.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [03:25]: “He is a proponent of the concept of civil liberties... he just hates Catholicism.”

Unmasking Voltaire: A Critique of His Actions and Beliefs

Superficial Opposition to Slavery

While Voltaire is often lauded for his criticisms of slavery, Dr. Janega argues that his stance is largely superficial. Although he condemned the physical brutality inflicted upon enslaved individuals, his advocacy fell short of a genuine abolitionist position. Instead of calling for the end of slavery, Voltaire proposed "slightly better conditions," effectively dehumanizing enslaved people by comparing them to livestock.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [07:27]: “It's the human rights thing... it is way too far to go down. Like, it's not as though this man was an abolitionist.”

Sexism and Misogyny

Voltaire's treatment of women reveals deep-seated sexism. Despite his intellectual prowess, he consistently denigrated women within intellectual circles and personal relationships. His numerous affairs and mistresses, coupled with his inability to advocate for women's rights genuinely, highlight a hypocritical side that contradicts his professed Enlightenment ideals.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [26:48]: “He doesn’t say, man, I really hope that a peasant girl... but he is specifically advocating for a bourgeois philosophical movement that places him at the top.”

Racist and Anti-Semitic Views

One of the most damning aspects of Voltaire's legacy, as discussed by Dr. Janega, is his overt anti-Semitism. Voltaire expressed racialized hatred towards Jews, referring to them as "ignorant and barbarous" and predicting their downfall akin to other stereotyped groups. This blatant racism undermines any moral authority he might hold and starkly contradicts his advocacy for civil liberties.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [44:15]: “He says Jews are born bad the way Germans are born blonde. So he's saying there is a racial animus that exists.”

Hypocrisy and Self-Aggrandizement

Voltaire's personal conduct further tarnishes his legacy. His incestuous relationship with his adult niece, resulting in imprisonment, showcases a blatant disregard for moral and ethical standards—contrary to his critiques of societal norms. Additionally, his self-promotion and manipulation of his legacy reveal a man more concerned with personal aggrandizement than genuine intellectual or moral advancement.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [40:54]: “He told Catherine the Great that he’s not a proponent of democracy... he is saying individual, smart, great men are the leaders.”

Voltaire’s Impact on Historical Narrative

Dr. Janega critiques how Voltaire has shaped the modern perception of the Middle Ages. By labeling it as an "Age of Superstition," Voltaire contributed to the "Dark Ages" myth, which oversimplifies and diminishes the complexities and achievements of medieval societies. This dichotomy of the "Enlightened" modern era versus a "Dark" medieval past perpetuates a flawed understanding of history, hindering a nuanced appreciation of different historical periods.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [20:19]: “It totally underlines the idea of this mythic progress... everything before is worse just by virtue of having happened in the past.”

The "Great Man" Theory and Its Pitfalls

Voltaire exemplifies the "Great Man" theory of history, where individual brilliance is overemphasized at the expense of collective societal developments. This perspective, as Dr. Janega argues, fosters a biased and incomplete historical record, prioritizing the achievements of a select few while neglecting the contributions and complexities of broader social movements and groups.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [32:43]: “Voltaire is responsible for spreading the conception of the Middle Ages as a particularly stupid and backwards time... allowing us to say this is the best things have ever been.”

Conclusion: Voltaire’s True Legacy

Dr. Janega wraps up the discussion by asserting that Voltaire's numerous flaws—his superficial stance on slavery, blatant sexism, anti-Semitism, and hypocritical behaviors—decisively overshadow any positive contributions he might have made. Rather than being a paragon of Enlightenment ideals, Voltaire emerges as a deeply flawed figure whose legacy is marred by prejudice and self-interest.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Eleanor Janega [56:53]: “He actively positioned himself this way... a person who goes around trying all the time to ensure that everyone who is below him remains below him just so that he can be smart and remembered is someone who sucks.”

Final Thoughts:
This episode of "This Guy Sucked" offers a compelling and critical examination of Voltaire, challenging listeners to reconsider the unquestioned reverence often granted to celebrated historical figures. Through meticulous analysis and sharp critique, Dr. Eleanor Janega effectively dismantles the myth of Voltaire as an unblemished champion of reason and civil liberties, revealing a man rife with hypocrisy, prejudice, and self-serving motives.

Notable Quotes Summary:

• Dr. Eleanor Janega [01:02]: “I am praying to St. Kenrick Lamar to give me the hateration power that I wish to bring to this podcast.”
• Dr. Eleanor Janega [07:27]: “It's the human rights thing... it is way too far to go down. Like, it's not as though this man was an abolitionist.”
• Dr. Eleanor Janega [26:48]: “He doesn’t say, man, I really hope that a peasant girl... but he is specifically advocating for a bourgeois philosophical movement that places him at the top.”
• Dr. Eleanor Janega [44:15]: “He says Jews are born bad the way Germans are born blonde. So he's saying there is a racial animus that exists.”
• Dr. Eleanor Janega [40:54]: “He told Catherine the Great that he’s not a proponent of democracy... he is saying individual, smart, great men are the leaders.”
• Dr. Eleanor Janega [20:19]: “It totally underlines the idea of this mythic progress... everything before is worse just by virtue of having happened in the past.”
• Dr. Eleanor Janega [32:43]: “Voltaire is responsible for spreading the conception of the Middle Ages as a particularly stupid and backwards time... allowing us to say this is the best things have ever been.”
• Dr. Eleanor Janega [56:53]: “He actively positioned himself this way... a person who goes around trying all the time to ensure that everyone who is below him remains below him just so that he can be smart and remembered is someone who sucks.”