This entanglement of philosophy with social criticism and reformist political action, a contingent historical outcome of Voltaire's particular intellectual career, would become his most lasting contribution to the history of philosophy.
The crown achievement of the new reformist government was the Action Program, adopted by the party's Central Committee in April 1968.
What happened in March that signifies a reason for reformists to worry about actions they may take against the existing monarchy?
The verdict against Mr. Ramazanzadeh coincided with other action against reformist politicians, who were mostly accused of vague charges of libel and slander against bodies controlled by hard-liners close to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the face of "undemocratic actions", laments Mehdi Makaremi, a reformist columnist, student bodies content themselves with "issuing statements".By banning adventurous newspapers and filtering websites, the authorities have denied publicity to political prisoners such as Akbar Ganji.
The reformists decided to take action even if Moussavi and Karroubi remain prisoners, indicating that they do not wish to boycott the election.
This could goad Mr Abe into action.Mr Abe suggests that his reformist credentials would get a boost from an early agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free-trade grouping that includes America.
But it was the minister of culture, rather than any other Iranian reformist, who transformed Mr Khatami's elegant slogans into action.
The reformists, while critical of America, have tried to suggest that the actions Mr. Bush criticized were the work of shadowy groups within the Iranian elite who want to keep the country isolated and autocratic.
"The words and actions of the nation's leaders, such as Hu Yaobang" — the reformist Party General Secretary, whose later disgrace and death triggered the 1989 Tiananmen protests — "wearing a Western suit, made a very big impact on people," he went on.
