Garantía de entrega
SKU/Artículo: AMZ-B0C2SG68L4
Micromegas: A New Translation
Format:
Paperback
Detalles del producto
Disponibilidad:
En stock
En stock
Peso con empaque:
0.33 kg
0.33 kg
Devolución:
Sí
Sí
Condición
Nuevo
Nuevo
Producto de:
Amazon
Amazon
Viaja desde
USA
USA
Sobre este producto
- Voltaire’s short novella Micromégas (1752) – literally “Smallbig” in reference to its title character – recounts a cosmic voyage and sharp satire of human pretensions. The narrative follows two gargantuan visitors (a Sirian and a Saturnian, both many kilometers tall) who, after scientific and philosophical exchanges on their home worlds, descend to Earth and find humans infinitesimally small. They first doubt that these creatures could be intelligent, then use ingenious devices (like a “hearing tube” of special construction) to converse with them. As the giants listen to human learning (including Aristotle, Locke and especially the Augustinian claim that the universe was made solely for man), they react with divine laughter at such anthropocentrism. The tale ends on a whimsical note: the Sirian promises to explain “the point of everything” in a book for the Paris Academy – only for the secretary to discover that the volume consists of blank pages. This framing (great cosmic scale subverting human certitude) and comic device underscores Voltaire’s critique of dogma and human self-importance. This modern Critical Reader’s Edition includes an illuminating afterword tracing Voltaire’s intellectual relationships with Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers (including Locke, Diderot, Rousseau and Newton), containing unique research into his influences and economic attachments, a comprehensive timeline of his life and works, a glossary of Enlightenment terminology, and a detailed index of all of Voltaire’s writings. This unique professional translation renders Voltaire’s sharp, satirical prose into modern language to preserve the original clarity and movement of the text. Combined with the scholarly amplifying material, this edition is a groundbreaking exploration of Voltaire’s classic works and his enduring artistic and philosophical influence, and influence on modern Protestant-Atheistic Theology. Micromégas was written in the 1750s and first appeared in print in 1752, attributed to "Paris, Michel Lambert" (although Voltaire probably oversaw the 1752 edition widely distributed in the Kingdom of France)g. It was written during the High Enlightenment, a period in which Voltaire was deeply involved in promoting science and criticizing religious fanaticism. The story's interplanetary setting and the traveler-outsider reflecting on Earth were not unique to Voltaire (Montesquieu's Persian Letters is a notable precedent), but here serve to relativize human society and religion. At the time of its publication in 1752 (the surviving authoritative English edition appeared in London in 1753), interest in Newtonian science and the plurality of worlds was high, and Voltaire tapped into this enthusiasm to convey his philosophical messages. The context of mid-18th-century France (and Voltaire's own struggles with censorship) meant that the work was circulated with some discretion, but it resonated with readers who were open to questioning traditional beliefs. Micromégas is often cited as one of the earliest works of "science fiction" or philosophical fiction, albeit in a satirical vein. Along with Voltaire's own Plato's Dream, the novella stands as a seminal example of Enlightenment speculative storytelling. It uses the conceit of alien visitors to explore themes of epistemological humility, religious doubt, and cosmic scale: readers realize that human affairs are trivial when viewed from the perspective of the Sirian giant, and Voltaire gently mocks any claim that Earth is the center of the universe. The work conveys, in literary form, Voltaire's broader campaign against dogmatism. By showing the ultimate "book" on human affairs to be empty, he implies that the truths people seek are elusive or subjective. Micromégas thus blends humor and mind-expanding thought in a narrative style that was innovative for its time, cementing the story's reputation as a "groundbreaking" early work.
S/ 113.92
49% OFF
S/ 58.42
IMPORT EASILY
By purchasing this product you can deduct VAT with your RUT number
S/ 113.92
49% OFF
S/ 58.42
Hasta 6 cuotas sin intereses con BCP, BBVA y Diners
Llega en 5 a 10 días hábiles
con envío
Tienes garantía de entrega
Compra protegida
Disfruta de una experiencia de compra segura y confiable
![]()
Garantía de entrega
Con Tiendamia todas tus compras cuentan con Garantía de Entrega o devolución total de tu dinero.
Compras 100% seguras y garantizadas, para que pidas lo que sueñas y lo recibas del mundo a tu puerta.
Saber más.
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
