Candide Socratic Seminar. Chapter 1 Discuss Pangloss’ philosophy. [p. 12, #2]

CandideCandide

Socratic SeminarSocratic Seminar

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Discuss Pangloss’ philosophy.Discuss Pangloss’ philosophy.

[p. 12, #2][p. 12, #2]

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Discuss Voltaire’s depiction of Discuss Voltaire’s depiction of free will. free will.

[p. 15, #2][p. 15, #2]

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Discuss Voltaire’s depiction of Discuss Voltaire’s depiction of religion. religion.

[p. 18, #4][p. 18, #4]

Chapter 4Chapter 4

Discuss Pangloss’ optimism. Discuss Pangloss’ optimism.

[p. 21, #1][p. 21, #1]

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Discuss the earthquake and its Discuss the earthquake and its effect. What view is Voltaire effect. What view is Voltaire expressing?expressing? [p. 26, #1][p. 26, #1]

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Discuss Candide’s reaction to the Discuss Candide’s reaction to the suffering of his loved ones.suffering of his loved ones. [p. 29, #2][p. 29, #2]

Chapter 7Chapter 7

What can be inferred by the What can be inferred by the re-appearance of Cunegonde? re-appearance of Cunegonde? [p. 31, #2] [p. 31, #2]

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Discuss the conflict between the Discuss the conflict between the Grand Inquisitor and Don Issachar. Grand Inquisitor and Don Issachar. What social criticism is revealed?What social criticism is revealed? [p. 34, #1] [p. 34, #1]

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Discuss the character development Discuss the character development of Candide.of Candide. [p. 36, #1] [p. 36, #1]

Chapter 10Chapter 10

Cunegonde and the old woman Cunegonde and the old woman argue over who has the greatest argue over who has the greatest suffering. What does this reveal suffering. What does this reveal about human nature?about human nature? [p. 40, #2] [p. 40, #2]


The old woman had been The old woman had been exceedingly beautiful in her youth. exceedingly beautiful in her youth. What is revealed about our What is revealed about our relationship with beauty?relationship with beauty? [p. 41, #1] [p. 41, #1]


Why has the old woman chosen to Why has the old woman chosen to continue living despite a lifetime of continue living despite a lifetime of suffering? suffering? [p. 50, #7-8] [p. 50, #7-8]


Discuss the character development Discuss the character development of Candide.of Candide. [p. 51, #1] [p. 51, #1]


Discuss the social criticism. Discuss the social criticism. [p. 55, #1] [p. 55, #1]


How are Candide’s views ahead of How are Candide’s views ahead of his time?his time? [p. 60, #2] [p. 60, #2]


1. Are there natural laws of 1. Are there natural laws of justice—or merely societal laws? justice—or merely societal laws?

2. What is the effect of Candide’s 2. What is the effect of Candide’s killing Cunegonde’s brother? killing Cunegonde’s brother? How does this impact Candide’s How does this impact Candide’s philosophical views? philosophical views? [p. 65, #2] [p. 65, #2]


Discuss the Eutopian village. Why does Discuss the Eutopian village. Why does this archetype appear often in literature?this archetype appear often in literature? [p. 69, #4] [p. 69, #4]


How does El Dorado reveal Voltaire’s How does El Dorado reveal Voltaire’s religious views?religious views? [p. 71, #1] [p. 71, #1]


Discuss the change in Candide. Why Discuss the change in Candide. Why does he renounce Pangloss’ optimism?does he renounce Pangloss’ optimism?

[p. 77, #3][p. 77, #3]


Discuss Candide and Martin’s Discuss Candide and Martin’s philosophical debate.philosophical debate.

[p. 83, #4][p. 83, #4]


What is the significance of Martin’s What is the significance of Martin’s comparison of human behavior with comparison of human behavior with animal behavior?animal behavior?

[p. 85, #1][p. 85, #1]


Discuss the ironic behavior of the Discuss the ironic behavior of the Parisians.Parisians.

[p. 88, #3][p. 88, #3]


Discuss Voltaire’s views on Discuss Voltaire’s views on nationalism.nationalism.

[p. 99, #3][p. 99, #3]


Contrast Martin and Candide’s Contrast Martin and Candide’s views.views.

[p. 104, #3][p. 104, #3]

Chapters 25-28Chapters 25-28

[p. 111, #5][p. 111, #5]

1.1. Why do we often assume that a critic has Why do we often assume that a critic has insight?insight?

[p. 99, #3][p. 99, #3]

2. Discuss Voltaire’s views of Leibniz.2. Discuss Voltaire’s views of Leibniz.

Gottfried Wilhelm LeibnizGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

German philosopher. (July 1, 1646 – November German philosopher. (July 1, 1646 – November 14, 1716)14, 1716)

BeliefsBeliefs Sufficient ReasonSufficient Reason. "There must be a sufficient . "There must be a sufficient

reason [often known only to God] for anything to reason [often known only to God] for anything to exist, for any event to occur, for any truth to exist, for any event to occur, for any truth to obtain."obtain."

• Pre-Established HarmonyPre-Established Harmony: The appropriate : The appropriate nature of each nature of each

substance brings it about that what happens to substance brings it about that what happens to one corresponds one corresponds

to what happens to all the others, without, to what happens to all the others, without, however, their acting however, their acting

upon one another directly."upon one another directly."

Gottfried Wilhelm LeibnizGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

• OptimismOptimism . "God assuredly always chooses the . "God assuredly always chooses the best.“best.“

• PlentitudePlentitude. "Leibniz believed that the best of . "Leibniz believed that the best of all possible worlds would actualize every all possible worlds would actualize every genuine possibility, and argued in “Theodicee” genuine possibility, and argued in “Theodicee” that this best of all possible worlds will contain that this best of all possible worlds will contain all possibilities, with our finite experience of all possibilities, with our finite experience of eternity giving no reason to dispute nature's eternity giving no reason to dispute nature's perfection."perfection."

Chapters 29-30Chapters 29-30

[p. 129, #9][p. 129, #9]

1.1. Discuss the metaphor of the garden.Discuss the metaphor of the garden.

Candide Socratic Seminar. Chapter 1 Discuss Pangloss’ philosophy. [p. 12, #2]

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