Voltaires Candide as Vehicle to Discredit Optimism Essay -- Candide e

Voltaires Candide as Vehicle to Discredit Optimism Optimism was an attractive to many because it answered a profound philosophical question if God is omnipotent and benevolent, then why is there so much evil in the world? Optimism provides an delicate way out God has made everything for the best, and even though mavin might experience personal misfortune, God (via your misfortune) is still helping the greater good. Voltaires experiences led him to dismiss the idea that this is the best of all in all mathematical worlds. Examining the cobblers last and destruction, both man-made and natural (including the Lisbon earthquake) Voltaire concluded that everything was not for the best. Voltaire uses Candide as the vehicle to attack optimism. Pangloss is meant not to attack Leibnitz, but rather optimism as a philosophy. Thus the reader brush asidenot forget that all of Panglosss ramblings are not Voltaires personal attacks on Leibnitz, but in some way hold a characterization of the typical optimist. Pangloss, writes Voltaire, Proved admirably that there cannot perhaps be an effect without a cause, and that in this best of all possible worlds the Barons castle was the most beautiful of all castles and his wife the best of all possible baronesses (Voltaire 2). Thus we have established Pangloss as the champion of optimism. to date just as quickly, Voltaire points out the absurdity of this doctrine. Observe, says Pangloss, seeking to demonstrate that everything has a cause and effect, noses were made to support spectacles, hence we have spectacles. Legs, as anyone can plainly see, were made to be breeched, and so we have breeches (Voltaire 3). The out-and-out(a) stupidity of these illogical conclusions will likely... ... Candide respond, in closing, to his friend the Optimist? That is very well put, said Candide, but we must cultivate our garden (Voltaire 75). Works Cited and Consulted Bottiglia, William. Candides Garden. Voltaire A Collection of Crit ical Essays. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968. Durant, Will, Ariel Durant. The Story of Civilization take time off IX The Age of Voltaire. New York Simon and Schuster, 1965. Frautschi, R.L. Barrons Simplified Approach to Voltaire Candide. New York Barrons educational Series, Inc., 1968. Lowers, James K, ed. Cliff Notes on Voltaires Candide. Lincoln Cliff Notes, Inc. 1995. Richter, Peyton. Voltaire. Boston Twayne Publishers, 1980. Voltaires Candide and the Critics. atomic number 20 Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc., 1996. Voltaire. Candide. New York Viking Publishers, 1998.