Voltaire's Candide Research Paper

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Central Philosophy in Voltaire’s Candide
These days’ humans find themselves questioning certain situation. Our future is determined by our control in life. There are time where we as human are fighting with ourselves due to our doubts and belief and our anxieties. How do we survive with all these anxieties that we suffer from? Is it because we are confident or defeatist. Humans have been trying to find the answer to these questions for many years. However in Candide, Voltaire comes to facing some of these problems in his novel.
In Candide, many critics argue that they are no solution when it comes to breaking down Voltaire’s solution. Critics like C.J. Betts agrees that Voltaire is an important historical figure that writes for European attention …show more content…

Unlike other critics, Betts believe that Voltaire desired to persuade and present Europe with a better belief system. With Voltaire desired to build a better belief system in Europe, this will include the doubts about following the church, social hierarchy, and government manners and laws. Giovanni Gullace agrees that Candide the main character in Voltaire novel represents the everyday European individual who is pushing to improve his ability in spite of those uncertainties. Gullace also believe Candide is an everyday role model and a hero for Enlightenment individuals. He is only an inspiration for individuals to strive for their best and not for philosophy. Historical critics added that through Candide, Voltaire was responding to new views of life at the time, including Gottfried Leibniz’s term “optimism”, which involved looking at everything from a positive perspective (Adams 82). There is more to Candide then meets the eye. Voltaire really wants to push Europe towards a new …show more content…

The church was unethical, the social hierarchy seemed unstabled, and the government seemed confined, intimidate, and selfish. During Candide’s journey, he questioned all the institutions of the 18th century which made the European society cope with its social, religious, and political uncertainties. Most of Europe witnessed the Enlightenment, a period where intellectual individuals applied reason and observed in search of an absolute truth. The Enlightenment was classified as the age of reason and optimism because man faithfully noticed progress and vowed to improve upon Classical times. As Candide travels through Europe, the Americas in search of the absolute truth. He tested his determination. Voltaire stated that nothing happens for the best or for the worst. He says that nothing is

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