Micromegas - Voltaire

Summary

Micromégas is a philosophical tale by Voltaire that follows the journey of an inhabitant from a planet orbiting the star Sirius, named Micromégas, who is of immense size (37,000 miles tall). After being exiled from his home planet for writing a controversial book, he embarks on a cosmic voyage. Along the way, he befriends the Secretary of the Academy of Saturn, a much smaller but still gigantic being, 6,000 feet tall. Together, they travel through the solar system, eventually arriving on Earth. Initially, they struggle to perceive any life on the tiny planet, but eventually discover a ship carrying human philosophers. Through the use of a diamond microscope and an ear trumpet, they engage in a profound philosophical discussion with these miniature humans. The giants are amazed by the humans' intellect despite their minuscule size but are also struck by their arrogance, dogmatism, and propensity for war. The story culminates in a debate about the meaning of existence, the nature of the soul, and human knowledge, with Voltaire satirizing various philosophical schools and highlighting the relativity of perspective and the limits of human understanding. Micromégas ultimately leaves the humans a "book of wisdom" that, upon inspection, is entirely blank, symbolizing that true wisdom must be discovered within oneself.

Book Sections

Section 1

The story begins by introducing Micromégas, an inhabitant of one of the planets orbiting the star Sirius. He is an exceptionally intelligent being, standing 37,000 miles tall, with a lifespan of 8 million years. His senses are far superior to ours, able to perceive colors and nuances beyond human comprehension. At the age of 250 (which is akin to 21 years old on Earth), he is brought to trial for writing a book about insects, which is deemed heretical by the local court of "ignorant and jealous dervishes." He is found guilty and exiled from his home for 800 years. Instead of being dismayed, Micromégas sees this as an opportunity to travel and explore the universe.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Micromégas	Giant being from Sirius (37,000 miles tall, 8 million-year lifespan), highly intelligent, curious, philosophical, open-minded, educated, exiled	To satisfy his insatiable curiosity about the universe, to escape unjust persecution, to seek knowledge and understanding

Section 2

Micromégas begins his cosmic journey, traveling through various celestial bodies. After a year, he reaches Saturn, whose rings and moons fascinate him. On Saturn, he encounters another intelligent being, the Secretary of the Academy of Saturn, who stands at a mere 6,000 feet tall and has a lifespan of "only" 15,000 years. Despite the vast size difference between them, they quickly form a friendship. They discuss their respective planets, their physical characteristics, and their limited understanding of the universe. The Saturnian, initially impressed by Micromégas's size and age, quickly feels insignificant in comparison but then realizes that even Micromégas is small relative to the universe. They bond over their shared sense of wonder and their philosophical outlook on life and the cosmos, deciding to continue their journey together.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Secretary of Saturn	Giant being from Saturn (6,000 feet tall, 15,000-year lifespan), intelligent, somewhat melancholy, philosophical, inquisitive, becomes a companion to Micromégas	To gain knowledge, to explore the universe with a new companion, to discuss philosophical questions

Section 3

Micromégas and the Saturnian depart from Saturn, traveling on a comet and then jumping from moon to moon. They visit Jupiter, Mars, and various other planets, observing their inhabitants and marveling at the diversity of life. After eighty days of travel, they finally approach the small blue sphere of Earth. Initially, they are disappointed, finding it to be a tiny, almost uninhabited speck. They try to perceive any life, but their giant senses are too coarse. The Saturnian, with his relatively smaller eyes, spots a whale, which they initially mistake for a tiny insect. Micromégas, amused, picks it up with his finger, and they continue their search for more sophisticated life.

Section 4

Continuing their observation of Earth, the giants eventually spot a tiny speck floating on the vast ocean. Using a diamond from Micromégas's necklace as a magnifying glass, they discover it is a ship filled with even tinier creatures. With the help of an ear trumpet (made from a fingernail clipping of Micromégas), they manage to hear the creatures speaking. These are human philosophers, traveling back from a scientific expedition. The giants are utterly astonished to find such small beings capable of articulate thought and complex language, and even more so to learn that they consider themselves to be the center of the universe. They gently pick up the ship and its inhabitants, bringing them closer for a conversation.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Human Philosophers	Tiny beings from Earth, intelligent, articulate, represent various philosophical and scientific schools (e.g., academicians, Aristotelians, Cartesians, Lockean), often dogmatic and prone to anthropocentrism	To understand the universe from their limited human perspective, to assert their philosophical doctrines, to engage in debate

Section 5

The giants begin a dialogue with the tiny humans, who are initially terrified but then amazed by the colossal beings. Micromégas and the Saturnian ask about their world, their sciences, and their understanding of the universe. The humans, despite their shock, eagerly share their knowledge, explaining concepts like geometry, astronomy, and physics. They describe their planet, its size, and their place within the cosmos. The giants are deeply impressed by the humans' intellectual prowess, realizing that intelligence is not dependent on size. They express their wonder at how such small beings can possess such complex thoughts and extensive knowledge, despite their minute existence on a speck of dust in the vast universe.

Section 6

The conversation shifts to more profound philosophical topics. The giants question the humans about the nature of their soul, their beliefs about the Creator, and the purpose of their existence. The human philosophers, representing different schools of thought, offer conflicting answers. A follower of Aristotle insists that everything is "act and power," while a Cartesian explains the world through "vortexes." A disciple of Malebranche posits that everything is "in God," and a Leibnizian speaks of "pre-established harmony." A Lockean argues that human knowledge is limited to experience. Micromégas and the Saturnian are bewildered by the diversity of opinions and the dogmatism displayed by many of the human thinkers. They find it ironic that beings so tiny have such immense pride and unwavering certainty in their differing, often contradictory, doctrines. The discussion highlights Voltaire's critique of philosophical arrogance and the limitations of human reason.

Section 7

The debate intensifies, focusing on the meaning of life, suffering, and the human condition. One particularly dogmatic "little peripatetic" (Aristotelian) dismisses the giants' existence entirely, claiming that they cannot possibly exist according to his philosophical principles. This provokes both amusement and dismay from Micromégas and the Saturnian. Another philosopher, a follower of Locke, offers a more humble perspective, acknowledging the vastness of the universe and the limitations of human understanding. This resonates more with the giants.

Ultimately, Micromégas decides to leave the humans a parting gift: a "philosophical book" that will explain the "final cause of everything." The humans eagerly await this ultimate wisdom. However, when they open the enormous book, they find that every page is completely blank. This symbolizes Voltaire's message that true wisdom is not found in dogmatic pronouncements or external revelations, but rather must be discovered and created by humanity itself through observation, reason, and an open mind. The giants then depart, leaving the humans to ponder the blank pages and their place in the universe.

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Literary Genre: Philosophical tale (Conte philosophique), Satire, Science Fiction (proto-science fiction), Novella.

Author Details:
Voltaire (born François-Marie Arouet, 1694–1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. He was a prolific writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works. His philosophical tales, such as 'Candide' and 'Micromégas', are among his most celebrated works, using satire and irony to critique societal ills, religious intolerance, and philosophical dogmatism. He spent much of his life advocating for justice and reason, often facing censorship and exile for his controversial views.

Moral and Lesson of the Book:
The primary moral of 'Micromégas' is the relativity of perspective and the critique of anthropocentrism and human pride. Voltaire uses the vast difference in scale between the giants and humans to demonstrate that our perceived importance, knowledge, and problems are entirely relative. What seems significant to us is utterly trivial from a cosmic viewpoint.
Other lessons include:

• Humility in knowledge: True wisdom lies in acknowledging the limits of human understanding, rather than clinging to dogmatic beliefs. The blank book symbolizes that ultimate truths are not handed down but must be sought and defined by humanity.
• Critique of philosophical dogmatism and religious fanaticism: Voltaire satirizes the endless, often contradictory, debates of philosophers and the absurdity of religious wars, suggesting that such conflicts arise from unfounded certainty and narrow perspectives.
• The vastness and wonder of the universe: The story encourages readers to appreciate the immense scale and diversity of the cosmos, fostering a sense of curiosity and open-mindedness.
• The value of questioning: Micromégas and the Saturnian exemplify intellectual curiosity and a willingness to question assumptions, a hallmark of Enlightenment thought.

Curiosities about the Book:

• Proto-Science Fiction: 'Micromégas' is often considered one of the earliest examples of science fiction literature due to its depiction of interstellar travel, alien beings, and discussions rooted in scientific discovery (like Newton's laws).
• Anonymous Publication: It was first published anonymously in 1752, a common practice for Voltaire to avoid censorship and persecution for his often controversial works.
• Influenced by Gulliver's Travels: Voltaire was influenced by Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' (1726), particularly the parts dealing with different scales of beings (Lilliput and Brobdingnag), using this device for philosophical satire.
• Scientific and Philosophical Context: The tale is deeply embedded in the scientific and philosophical debates of Voltaire's time, particularly the rivalry between Cartesian physics (which relied on "vortexes") and Newtonian physics (which explained gravity through universal attraction). Voltaire was a staunch advocate for Newtonian science.
• Critique of Leibniz and Optimism: While not as explicit as in 'Candide', 'Micromégas' also contains subtle critiques of Leibniz's philosophical optimism, which posited that we live in "the best of all possible worlds." The suffering and folly of humans, as observed by the giants, challenge this notion.
• The Nature of the Soul: The discussions about the soul reflect the contemporary debate between materialist and idealist philosophies.