Voltaire s Candide - Denouncing Providence - 1503 Words

Voltaire’s Candide – Denouncing Providence Eighteenth century France was ruled by the divine power of Louis le XIV, the regime of absolutisme followed, restricting the liberties and creating a corrupt society founded on providence and religious determinism. Les Philosophes des Lumià ¨res notably Voltaire instilled logic and reason to combat theological and metaphysical solutions surrounding French populations whilst pushing for a separation between the Catholic church and the state. Voltaire, also known as Franà §ois-Marie Arouet (1964-1778) wrote Candide as an objection to many optimistic philosopher’s theories surrounding providence and human will. His main purpose in Candide was to ridicule a German optimistic philosopher known as†¦show more content†¦The reference to the devastating earthquake demonstrates that misfortunes can happen to innocent people and philosophizing that we live in the best possible worlds (i.e not acting for one’s self) is no solution or way to live a progressive life or to avert such tragedies, thus he denounces that acting for one’s self is a better option. There is nothing moral about the earthquake hence, there is certainly no justification for such a disaster. Pangloss is demonstrating blind optimism as he states everything is for the best, even in situations as dreadful as this, ridiculing Leibniz’ theory of providence. Catriona Seth PhD, a professor for 18th century French literature at Oxford University in her blog: Why is there an earthquake in Candide? Discusses the Lisbon Earthquake present in Candide: â€Å"Following the earthquake, the philosophy of optimism no longer seemed defensible to someone like Voltaire. As he wrote to a correspondent on November 30th 1755, here is an argument against your optimism [Lisbon earthquake]†. Voltaire uses plenum and materia subtilis as an allusion in order to ridicule Leibniz by comparing outdated theories (providence with the theory that light rays could pass through subtle