François-Marie Arouet (Paris, November 21, 1694-ibidem, May 30, 1778), better known as Voltaire, was a French writer, historian, philosopher and lawyer who figures as one of the main representatives of the Enlightenment, a period that emphasized the power of human reason, of science and respect for humanity. In 1746 Voltaire was elected a member of the French Academy in which he held the 33rd seat.