The ancient Romans built their greatest masterpieces of architecture, their amphitheaters, for wild beasts to fight in

The ancient Romans built their greatest masterpieces of architecture, their amphitheaters, for wild beasts to fight in

Voltaire, the renowned French philosopher and writer of the Enlightenment period, would likely have had a critical perspective on the ancient Romans' practice of building amphitheaters for wild beasts to fight in. Known for his sharp wit and satirical commentary on society, Voltaire would have likely viewed this practice as a barbaric and cruel form of entertainment that reflected the moral decadence of the Roman Empire.

In his famous work, "Candide," Voltaire satirizes the idea of blind optimism and the belief in a perfect world. He uses the character of Candide to navigate a series of absurd and tragic events that highlight the flaws and injustices of the world. In this context, Voltaire would likely have used the construction of amphitheaters for gladiatorial combat as a symbol of the brutality and inhumanity of the Roman Empire.

Voltaire was a staunch advocate for reason, tolerance, and human rights. He believed in the power of education and enlightenment to bring about positive change in society. The spectacle of wild beasts fighting in amphitheaters would have been antithetical to Voltaire's values of compassion and empathy for all living beings.

Furthermore, Voltaire was a critic of organized religion and the abuses of power by religious institutions. The use of amphitheaters for violent entertainment would have likely been seen by Voltaire as a manifestation of the corrupt and oppressive nature of the Roman Empire, which used such spectacles to distract and control the masses.