Voltaire

philosophy of optimism regarding the human condition. In both texts, the characters were experiencing war, religious intolerance, starvation and sickness, and both main characters, Elie and Candide, grew bitter and discouraged from their situations. Voltaire ends Candide with “we must cultivate our own garden”. This means that we are the ones responsible for our own destinies. This is hopeful because it hints towards an overall better…

suddenly saved by the Bulgar King (Voltaire 357-358), whom doubtless needed the good publicity for saving a man. Candide is then reunited with Pangloss, whom then relates a quick version of the story of the war that came to Westphalia and how it was destroyed, along with Candide’s love, Cunegonde (Voltaire 360). Later in the story, Candide is met again to the somehow still living Cunegonde, whom reveals that she was indeed disemboweled, but she survived (Voltaire 365-366). Running from the…

Widely acclaimed writers and philosophers, such as Voltaire, touched upon concerning and hypocritical social norms, in satirical pieces, in an effort to provide the public with honest commentary on how they saw society. Adam Smith, a writer who in many ways became the father…

philosophy which supports the idealism that everything happens out of absolute necessity, everything happens for the best, and that we are living in the “best of all possible worlds.” In a short novel titled “Candide, or Optimism” published by Voltaire in 1759, Voltaire makes a excellent case against Optimism as a philosophical position by using a character by the name of Pangloss to portray an exaggerated view of Optimism. By the reader seeing how ridiculous these scenarios are and how obvious…

The model for Dr. Pangloss is Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, as shown by the agreement between their philosophies. From the text it is clear that Voltaire shows how Leibniz’s philosophy is useless…. perhaps even a hindrance at times. In his book, Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man, and the Origin of Evil, Leibniz discusses the idea that we live in the “best of all possible worlds”. Because God would have chosen to create the best of all possible universes. In his…

theoretical explanations for issues such as morality, class exploitation, and good vs. evil. With regards to the last, the school of thought known as théodicée was a popular conception of the time because of its agreeability with Catholic principles. Voltaire is an example of a philosophe who vehemently disagreed…

As an ironic story that focuses on many problems dealing with philosophy and theology, Voltaire’s “Candide” stands to clarify and possibly teach a lesson to the people that would hold too much faith in these philosophies. Many catastrophic events happen to the lead character, Candide, as well as just about every other character in the story, in order to focus on the problems that lie in detaching yourself from responsibility of their own actions leaving it to God, to fate, or to nature when the…

although, I haven't had the harsh critique that Voltaire has had from our contemporary civilization; then again secularism is forgiving. Candide starts his life journey from the Baron's castle of Westphalia, deemed the rich pickings of opportunism. Thus, what comes from such magnificence environs and alarming rituals is an unrivaled dehumanization process, that is normalized. Totalitarianism…

Voltaire, arguably the most influential Age of Reason philosopher, had a large impact on Frederick’s and Catherine's reigns. Voltaire lived from 1694 to 1778 and began his life in France, but was later imprisoned. After he was released, he made his way to England where he was struck by their tolerance for individual…

including Voltaire, Condorcet, Baron de Montesquieu and John Locke literally changed the course of Western civilization. The Age of Enlightenment represented more than just a collection of thoughts, but formed the fundamental backbone of ideals and principles…