Best of all possible worlds

that we live in the “best of all possible worlds” because God would have chosen to create it as so. In La Monadologie, Leibniz states that the number of possible universes in God’s imagination is infinite. Since only one of them can exist, there must be a good reason that God chose this one. Because God is perfect, the reason must be that this world is more perfect that the other possible worlds. In his Letter to Bourguet (late 1712), Leibniz states “I do not believe that a world without evil,…

Even though his philosophy stated that God chose "the best of all possible worlds," he also meant that God, being the perfection he is, chose the best world available to him, unfortunately it was a world containing evil. It seems as though Voltaire wanted to ridicule Leibniz’s philosophy so much that he chose to satirize only the literal meaning and fatal acceptance of evil of Leibniz’s…

many tragedies such as the earthquake in Lisbon that makes him question the philosophy phrase "best of all possible worlds" (Voltaire, IX). In his book, Voltaire concludes that optimism is not enough to cope with tragedies, however, it is a way of gaining more intellectual insights to become a reasonable individual. Optimism is a doctrine which states that this world is the best of all possible world. The idea of optimism was introduced by German philosopher G.W. von Leibniz, Alexander Pope,…

and primary guide. He's the knowledge and worldview source for Candide. However, His effect is completely the opposite of the typical mentors. Pangloss knows little about the structure of the world since he lived only an idle life inside a castle. Candide has never had a direct experience with the outside world. Therefore, he without any question believes in Pangloss’s philosophy. Candide is incredibly gullible, faithful, idealistic, and innocent to an extreme level. He believes and accepts…

Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician and philosopher, offers a theodicy to show that God’s goodness, omniscience, and omnipotence are all consistent with the existence of evil in the universe. His central argument, which will be discussed in detail in the next paragraph, is that we are actually living in the best possible universe. I disagree with his theodicy because it is logically flawed, it says that God is not omnipotent, and evil is not necessary for us to appreciate the good that…

perfectly good moral agent created any world at all, it would have to be the very best world that he could create.” While Adams states for us that there are many who hold to this claim regarding the Creator, he is quick to let the reader know that he is not one such person. Arguing that these claims are false, Adams attempts to show that it is consistent with a Judeo-Christian understanding of ethics that God need not create the best of all possible worlds. It is in defense of this main that…

work, as a world in which true human sacrifice is possible is not a better world than one where God is not hidden. I will refer to the former as a ‘Godless World’ and the latter as a ‘Godly World’. There are three themes which this essay will address: true human sacrifice, two potential worlds and human freedom. I will conclude that a ‘Godly World’ – even if true human sacrifice is not possible within that world – is better than a ‘Godless World’ where true human sacrifice is possible.…

that occur within our world. After reading Leibniz’s theory for the problem of evil and why it occurs, I was moved because he finally put in to words my everlasting faith for the reason God does the things that he does. Leibniz’s theodicy is based on the “best of all possible worlds” argument and his “metaphysical evil” argument. The first argument, which I’ll refer to as worlds, first establishes God’s existence and continues on listing the characteristics of Him. Worlds include…

benevolent monarch of El Dorado and the freedom his subjects enjoyed; he also criticized the oppression of speech and thought, as well as the dangers of superstition by including the tale of Candide and Pangloss in Lisbon. Based on this evidence, the only possible conclusion one can arrive at is that Candide is a representative piece of Enlightenment literature that effectively communicates many ideologies associated with the…

the realms of their religion. But to the disbelief of God fearing men, not every event that transpires is for the best intention. In Candide by Voltaire, the idea that everything happens for the best of reasons is challenged. We follow Candide as he is kicked out of his estate, loses his lover, gets beaten repeatedly, and has his faith challenged every step of the way. Throughout it all we experience Candide’s chronicles interpreted through Voltaire’s own satirical humour and experience…