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Emilie Du Chatelet, Voltaire, and the Great Love Affair of the Enlightenment

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Published in Passionate Minds: Emilie Du Chatelet Voltaire And The Great Love Affair Of The Enlightenment

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Emilie Du Chatelet was a brilliant French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher. She is best known for her work on the conservation of energy, which she developed independently of Gottfried Leibniz. She also translated Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica into French, making it accessible to a wider audience. Du Chatelet had a close relationship with Voltaire, one of the most famous philosophers of the Enlightenment. They were intellectual equals, and their relationship was based on mutual respect and admiration.

Passionate Minds: Emilie du Chatelet, Voltaire, and the Great Love Affair of the Enlightenment

by David Bodanis

4.5 out of 5

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Early Life and Education

Emilie Du Chatelet was born on December 17, 1706, in Paris, France. Her father was Louis Nicolas Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, a wealthy and powerful nobleman. Her mother was Gabrielle Anne de Froulay, a devout Catholic. Du Chatelet was a precocious child, and she showed a talent for mathematics and science at an early age. She was educated at home by private tutors, and she quickly mastered the basics of mathematics, physics, and philosophy.

Marriage and Family

In 1725, Du Chatelet married Florent Claude du Chastellet-Lomont, a wealthy nobleman. The marriage was arranged by Du Chatelet's father, and it was not based on love. Du Chatelet and her husband had three children, but their marriage was unhappy. Du Chatelet was bored by her husband, and she found him to be intellectually inferior. She sought solace in her work, and she continued to study mathematics and science.

Relationship with Voltaire

In 1733, Du Chatelet met Voltaire, and the two of them quickly became close friends. Voltaire was one of the most famous philosophers of the Enlightenment, and he was known for his wit, his intelligence, and his love of life. Du Chatelet and Voltaire shared a passion for knowledge, and they spent many hours discussing philosophy, science, and literature. They also wrote letters to each other, and these letters reveal the deep affection and respect that they had for each other.

Intellectual Collaboration

Du Chatelet and Voltaire were not only lovers, but they were also intellectual equals. They worked together on a number of projects, including the translation of Newton's Principia Mathematica into French. Du Chatelet also helped Voltaire to develop his ideas on natural philosophy, and she wrote a number of essays on her own behalf. Du Chatelet was a brilliant thinker, and she made significant contributions to the Enlightenment.

Legacy

Emilie Du Chatelet died on September 10, 1749, at the age of 42. She died from complications related to childbirth. Du Chatelet was a brilliant woman who made significant contributions to mathematics, physics, and philosophy. She was also a devoted friend and lover, and her relationship with Voltaire is one of the most famous love stories of the Enlightenment.

Emilie Du Chatelet was a remarkable woman who lived during a time of great intellectual ferment. She was a brilliant thinker, and she made significant contributions to the Enlightenment. She was also a devoted friend and lover, and her relationship with Voltaire is one of the most famous love stories of the Enlightenment.

Passionate Minds: Emilie du Chatelet, Voltaire, and the Great Love Affair of the Enlightenment

by David Bodanis

4.5 out of 5