Candid View Of Leibniz's Optimism

The enlightenment took place in Europe in the 18th century. It was a time of reason and science. During this period everything was redone from science to politics and also philosophy. There was also clashes between the church and society because of the change that was taking place. Great philosophers came out of this time period such as Rousseau. The ideas of the 18th century would influence how people thought and wrote.

In his work, Candide, Voltaire uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about many aspects of European society in the eighteenth century, a period known as the Enlightenment. This Age of Reason swept through Europe, offering differing views on science, religion, and politics. The following essay will outline the philosophical theory of Pangloss, a character of the novel and suggest how his optimistic worldview is challenged by numerous disasters. I will also justify the reasons Voltaire attacks hypocrisy, most prevalent in religion, and displays the cruel actions of the priests, monks, and other religious leaders. In the

Voltaire’s Candide is a lively satirical work wrought with black humor and caricature-like characters. Apart from being a humorous and entertaining masterpiece, Candide explores the metaphysical conflict humanity faces in attempting to make sense of the world and its struggles. In his work, Voltaire uses his characters to serve as caricatures or parodies of various contrasting philosophies which each in their own way attempt to confront and remedy this existential conflict. He frames these characters’ worldviews in such a way as to create a philosophical spectrum with optimism and pessimism being at opposite extremes amongst other worldviews, such as meliorism and quietism, within the spectrum.

Voltaire’s use of imagery and satire in “Candide, or Optimism” allows the reader to contemplate how Candide has such an optimistic attitude in the face of the trials and tribulations which he and his friends endured.

The birth of the Enlightenment happened during the 18th Century and it emerged from Europe as an intellectual movement of writers and thinkers questioning and challenging the ideas and views that at the time was widely accepted. Especially the Catholic Church was challenged for its traditional and determined values. Their analysis of society was based on reason and rational thoughts rather than superstition and traditional ways. The movement

Francois-Marie Arouet, known better by his pen name, Voltaire, was a French writer who’s satirical and political works during the Enlightenment made his name as one of the most famous Intellectuals of the time period. Voltaire was outspoken almost to a fault, as his wit and cunning led him to have to flee Paris due to arguments with French nobleman. In 1759, he published Candide, which was known by multiple titles such as: All for the Best, or Candide or Optimism. The book reflects on the ideals of the Enlightenment at the time, and through exaggerated situations harshly satirized by Voltaire, Candide reflects the Enlightenment ideals of women’s societal role and optimism.

   Leibnitz emphasized, in his Discours de Metaphysique (Discourse on Metaphysics) (1686) the role of a benevolent creator. He called the constituent components of the universe monads, and while the philosophy of monads is of little concern to readers of Candide, the conclusion which Leibnitz drew from these monads is crucial to an understanding of optimism.

Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travel’ and Voltaire’s ‘Candide’ are typical literature works during the Enlightenment period. Both authors use satire in their works. Satire is literary form which means irony. Therefore, they have some similarities. They both want to expose human vices through satiric tone. Due to different personal styles, there are many differences between two novels.

Voltaire a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher, is famous for his attacks on the Catholic Church and his support for freedom of religion & expression and separation of church & state. These elements that characterize him are evident in his novel “Candide”, written in 1759. As suggested by the title, the plot of the novel revolves around Candide and his journey to learn about life and change. Voltaire portrays the elements that have made him famous through the character of Candide; he uses the elements to show how Candide experiences new traditions and cultures during his journey. Voltaire uses religion to illustrate how Candide loses and regains paradise.

Mr. Boni chose this book for our class in order to provide us with a first hand example of the views of the Enlightenment period philosopher, Voltaire. Throughout Candide, Voltaire’s well known satire, we are exposed to his sharp-witted criticisms of the church, nobility, religion, and philosophy. Using misfortune as well as comic relief, Candide, holds the interest of its readers while educating them in Enlightened views. For the use of our current studies, this novel is a brilliant bridge between the witty words of one man’s views of the world and the history in which it is surrounded. It represents the author’s unabridged view on mankind’s lack of necessary development as a result of the Enlightenment, staying true to his aversions of religious

François-Marie Arouet was born in 1694 in Paris. An outspoken and passionate writer, Arouet wrote about many issues during the Enlightenment time. Some of his writings were so offensive that he was imprisoned for them. While imprisoned, Arouet took on the pen name “Voltaire”. In 1759, after his release from prison, Voltaire published Candide. Candide is full of satire and dark comedy that criticizes the church, nobility, philosophy, and the brutality of man. Voltaire, a deist, believed that it was impossible for man to know anything beyond his senses, so therefore Gods will is mysterious. Candide shows the ignorance people of certain belief systems hold and that everything is not for the best in this best of all possible world, like the main characters believe. Candide shows that sometimes bad things just happen and people have to reason it out on their own.

Candide or “Optimism” is one of the works of Voltaire. This novella mainly satirizes philosophical optimism, which is a belief that everything in the world is done for a reason, and this world was created by a perfect God therefore, it must be perfect. The novel’s protagonist, Candide and his tutor Dr. Pangloss, think ‘’everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds. ’’ Candide looks to Dr. Pangloss in times of need and question.

Voltaire's Candide is a short satirical novel based on the life, adventures, and ultimate enlightenment of the title character Candide. The novel was subtitled ironically, The Optimist, in reference to a type of philosophy prevalent in Voltaire's day, which the author found repellant. Candide is his answer to optimism as a philosophy. Likewise, Samuel Johnson's Rasselas presents a worldview (according to the philosopher Imlac) that at times appears to be somewhat stilted. Not as cynical or satirical as Candide, however, the hero Rasselas learns lessons about life that to a certain extent elude Voltaire's hero. This paper will show how Johnson's Rasselas learns to be satisfied with pursuing his vocation as prince and "administer [of] justice" (Johnson 197), while Voltaire's Candide learns that man is essentially doomed to suffer from his own folly and ignorance in the ironically dubbed "best of all possible worlds" (Voltaire 14).

Today, Candide is used in the study of European Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers as a first-hand account of the faults within the value systems of government, religion, and society during the 18th Century. Through its sarcastic portrayal of seemingly absurd customs and traditions, Candide illustrates Europe in all of its flawed glory. As a prominent figure of the Enlightenment, Voltaire sought to publicize his views on society in a digestible, entertaining, and condensed medium like Candide (“Voltaire”). Written in a period of exile and fear in his life, Candide acted as Voltaire’s biting response to the crushing weight of outdated societal customs.

François-Marie Arouet, also known as Voltaire after his writings exiled him from france, was an Era of Enlightenment philosopher that focused on social oppression, Government corruption, and fanaticism; i.e, optimistic philosophy and religion. Voltaire 's writing style was indignantly satirical to the late middle ages system, but despite exile from France because of his writing, he became popular among the masses for his philosophy. Candide, one of Voltaire 's more famous works, expresses lack of reasoning in optimistic philosophy, for the application of practical issues. Candide’s journey is expressed in a quick turnover of events, leaving the reader unavailable to emotionally attach themselves to tragedies; however, Candide’s transformation to an ethical individual is expressed by the lack of practical use of optimistic philosophy.