Comparing Candide, By Kant And Voltaire

“Optimism is the hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something” This is the cry of the enlightenment period. This was the hope that Kant and Voltaire so strongly desired for the future. Optimism is something that most people think that they have, but very few actually acquire. Optimism not only requires hope, but it requires action. The enlightenment period was a precursor to the revolution. Immanuel Kant believed that all men, if they have the freedom to think, can create a true reform in all of society. Why did he believe that humans had the power to do such big things? The answer is optimism. He stood on the value that humans are beings who were given the ability to think and reason. We were not placed
The entire story line consists of hypocrisy with in the church and the despair that life is without optimism. He writes in satire in order to make a point. All throughout, his examples such as the Pope having a child despite claims of celibacy, inquisitor hanging Pangloss for different philosophical ideas, the flogging of Candide for just thinking about approving Pangloss’ ideas, and lastly the church officials have mistresses on each arm and are jewel thieves. Why does he write about such things? The reason is that he wants to expose what the society is facing and how human endeavors can change behavior and can change the world in which they lived. He wanted a proactive solution to all the problems in society. He did not want everyone to just keep talking and not do anything for the situation. He presented Pangloss as an optimist who believed everything happens for a reason and at any given time, no matter the circumstance that this “was the best of all possible worlds”. Voltaire believed that with the right perspective, the people could see the flaws in society. He believed that humans had the ability to change the ways in which society thought and handled