Which ideas of John Locke influenced Voltaire?

John Locke’s philosophy profoundly influenced Voltaire, particularly through the introduction of empiricism and the advocacy of religious toleration.12

Voltaire was a key figure in importing Locke’s philosophical ideas into France, specifically championing Locke’s sensationalist psychology. Locke argued that the human mind is not born with innate ideas but instead derives knowledge and moral values from experience and sensory observation. Voltaire admired Locke’s "historical plain method," which treated philosophy as a critical inquiry based on experience rather than abstract speculation.12

Furthermore, Locke’s defense of religious toleration served as a vital template for Voltaire’s own work. Voltaire embraced Locke’s arguments that beliefs are largely the product of one's environment and that society has a responsibility to foster moral improvement through education and reason. By promoting these ideas, Voltaire became a leading advocate for free inquiry, freedom of thought, and the fight against superstition and intolerance, famously encapsulated in his campaign to "crush infamy" (écrasez l'infâme).314