BACKGROUND FOR READING VOLTAIRE’S CANDIDE:
Rationalism in 17th Century
Philosophy: Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza
Strong estimate of powers of human reason & rationality of
world
WILHELM
LIEBNIZ: discoverer of
calculus (separately from Newton)
Monadology -- treatise on structure of universe, made up of individual "monads"
philosophical “optimism” – "everything is for the best" taken to
extreme
doctrine of
pre-established harmony – individual interest fits into
a
divine,
broader purpose, even if individual (monad) doesn’t see
it.
problem of evil:
answered by means of theodicy: a philosophical
term
for
reconciliation of the existence of good God with evil,
or
“justifying
the ways of God to man” (in Milton’s
phrase)
(etymology: theos = God; dix = justice; theodicy =
God + justice)
Alexander Pope, Essay on
Man (see link with lecture notes and Handout # 7)
Poetical
expression of Liebnitz’ philosophy: “whatever is, is
right”
VOLTAIRE’S CANDIDE:
satire on optimistic philosophy of Leibniz (= Pangloss)
written in 1758-59, after
the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 which raises
the problem of
evil: why does God (assuming one) permit natural disasters?
Characters: Candide: simple, honest,
unsophisticated common sense
approach
"his soul was too pure to depart from the truth"
Pangloss:satirical portrayal of Leibniz as academic
philosopher
out of touch with reality, expert who purports to understand
everything but has no practical reason, common sense
Martin: calls himself Manichaean = heretical
belief which
explains
existence of evil in universe through theory that physical
world (including human body but not soul) was created by
an evil power, not by the good God
called "philosopher" : but how is he different from the
official "philosopher" of this story, Pangloss?
Dervish: Ch. 30
"the best philosopher in Turkey," "When his
highness sends a galley to Egypt, does he worry about
the
comfort or discomfort of the rats on the ship?"
What kinds of laws of nature and society govern Candide's world?
Sources of evil in world both human & natural: "moral & physical evil," Ch. 20
Natural: storms, shipwreck, earthquake
Human: individual level: greed, hypocrisy; stupidity; see Ch 21
institutional (collective) level:
religion, dogmatism; superstition;
e.g. Spanish Inquisition: auto-da-fé (act of faith)= public
ceremony of executing heretics and punishing
dissidents
Jesuits in the New World; Theatine monk in
Venice
politics: Bulgarian army; warfare; Kings at Venice Carneval Ch
16
custom,
pretensions of the nobility ("quarterings" of
nobility)
rank via genealogy: one quarter = a noble great or
grandparent
e.g. Cunegunde's Jesuit brother takes offense at Candide's
desire to marry his sister (Ch.
15)
society: experiences in France Ch. 22; Paquette in Venice Ch
24
learning, culture: Venice -- the bored Signor Pococurante Ch 25
Images of
good: Cunegunde; El Dorado (Ch. 18): natural
religion = one God,
no
monks or priests; no law courts; leave with gold, diamonds
etc.
Farm (Ch. 29-30): work without theorizing; cultivate our
gardens.