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Voltaires Candide (1) The first half of 18 th century, when Voltaire wrote his famous book Candide, is now being referred to as the Age of Reason, which explains the fact why, despite fictionist nature of Voltaire novella, it incorporates many elements of classical rhetoric, as if author strived to convince readers in plausibleness of his worldview. The Age of Reason was the time when Christianity was rapidly loosing its ideological credibility, which caused many notable intellectuals of the time to resort to ancient Greek methods of philosophical persuasion, as such that had never lost their practical effectiveness. These methods are strongly associated with the name of Aristotle, who the first philosopher to suggest that, even though rhetoric and dialectics share the same metaphysical properties, they nevertheless have different fields of their practical application. In his book, Voltaire tries to persuade readers to adopt his point of view on variety of different matters, while utilizing such elements of rhetoric as exemplum, sententia, analogy and exergasia.
He also uses such methods of logical argumentation as Aristotelian Syllogism, Reductio ad absurdum and Enthymeme. In this paper, we will substantiate the validity of this statement. (2) At the beginning of Candide, Pangloss comes up with a speech, in which he justifies the way world works, as something that has a deep meaning and therefore, beneficial to the humanity. Even though he strives to remain objective, during the course of his monologue, his line of his argument is meant to validate Pangloss understanding of what the concept of morality stands for. In its turn, it allows us to refer to his speech as classic exemplum, because Pangloss refers to the laws of nature as such that confirm his moral stance, in regards to surrounding reality: Stones were made to be hewn, and to construct castles -- therefore my lord has a magnificent castle; for the greatest baron in the province ought to be the best lodged. Pigs were made to be eaten -- therefore we eat pork all the year round (Voltaire, I). When Candide finds himself in Bulgarian army, he still believes that everything in this world is based on the principle of sufficient reason.
Bulgarians strive to confirm such his idea by suggesting that he has nothing to worry about as we will never suffer such a man as you to want money; men are only born to assist one another (Voltaire, II). However, even after being robbed of his money and freedom by Bulgarians, Candide still continues to believe in existential positivism. When he meets Pangloss again, his former teacher, despite being taught lesson in harsh reality, remains loyal to his ideas that mens true calling is be assisting one another in the time of need: Mankind have a little corrupted nature, for they were not born wolves, and they have become wolves (Voltaire, IV). Thus, we can say that Voltaire was well aware of exergasia as rhetorical method, as he continuously relies on it, throughout his book, in order to make the ideas of his characters sounding more plausible.
During the course of the same conversation between Candide and Pangloss, the former teacher of logic resorts to analogy, as the mean of substantiating his philosophy of life. When Candide expresses his doubts about purposefulness of events in life, Pangloss suggests that Columbus geographical discoveries also did not seem to be very beneficial for the mankind, at the time they took place, and that only later people grew to appreciate what he had done for them: It was a thing unavoidable, a necessary ingredient in the best of worlds; for if Columbus had not in an island of America caught this disease, which contaminates the source of life, frequently even hinders generation, and which is evidently opposed to the great end of nature, we should have neither chocolate nor cochineal. (Voltaire, IV). In chapter XXI, Voltaire makes use of Aristotelian Syllogism, as the mean of illustrating that men are no much different from wild animals, because it is their anomalistic instincts that define their behavior more then anything else does: Do you believe, said Martin, that hawks have always eaten pigeons when they have found them? . Yes, without doubt, said Candide. Well, then, said Martin, if hawks have always had the same character why should you imagine that men may have changed theirs? . (Voltaire, XXI).
The fact that Candide could not challenge the logical properties of this syllogism prompted him to revaluate his former philosophical convictions. Despite the fact that objective reality continuously undermines the value of Pangloss ideas, in regards to metaphysics, he appears of being incapable of reconsidering them. Thus, we can say that Pangloss philosophy was artificial in its essence. Candide, on the other hand, proves himself capable of relying on his sense of logic, while dealing with conceptual challenges. When seeing Pangloss hanging from the tree, the sheer absurdity of positivist philosophy becomes apparent to Candide.
For the first time in his life, he realizes that this world might not be the best of all, as Pangloss used to insist. The following sentence is the classical example of Reductio ad absurdum, on Candide's part: If this is the best of possible worlds, what then are the others? Well, if I had been only whipped I could put up with it, for I experienced that among the Bulgarians; but oh, my dear Pangloss! Thou greatest of philosophers, that I should have seen you hanged, without knowing for what! (Voltaire, VI). Thus, Candide implies that there can hardly be worse worlds then our, because it is quite impossible to imagine that peoples suffering may be brought to even further extent. Even though the method of sententia has not been excessively used in Voltaires book, we can still find the examples of it, during the course of reading about Candide's misadventures: I have seen the worst, Candide replied.
But a wise man, who since has had the misfortune to be hanged, taught me that all is marvelously well; these are but the shadows on a beautiful picture. Your hanged man mocked the world, said Martin. The shadows are horrible blots (Voltaire, XXII). Martins suggestion sounds sophisticated, which adds to its semantic value. In chapter X, Voltaire utilizes the rhetorical method of enthymeme: Alas! said Cunegonde, my good mother, unless you have been ravished by two Bulgarians, have received two deep wounds in your belly, have had two castles demolished, have had two mothers cut to pieces before your eyes, and two of your lovers whipped at an auto-da-fe, I do not conceive how you could be more unfortunate than I (Voltaire, X).
Cunegdones conviction that none could have possibly suffered more then her, serves as such that substantiates her argument. Even though Cugnedones suggestion could be easily brushed aside with the mean of logic, there can be no doubt that it has a great emotional appeal and therefore, is valuable, in rhetorical sense of this word. At the end of his book, Voltaire provides us with example of logical fallacy of assumption, in order to ridicule the adherents of philosophical positivism, closely associated with name of Leibnitz. Apparently, the resurrected Pangloss never looses his taste for trying to adjust the objective reality to the set of his philosophical beliefs, despite the fact that such activity, on his part, has proven itself as being utterly counter-productive: I am still of my first opinion, answered Pangloss, for I am a philosopher and I cannot retract, especially as Leibnitz could never be wrong; and besides, the pre-established harmony is the finest thing in the world, and so is his plenum and materia subtilis (Voltaire, XXVIII). Although this Pangloss rhetorical sentence incorporates sententia, it sounds very unconvincing, because Pangloss assert himself as being incapable of opening up his mind to the new ideas. Thus, we can conclude that the reason why Voltaires Candide is still being regarded as such that represent a great philosophical values, despite its dubious literary properties, is that author relied on his supreme sense of rhetorical finesse, during the course of writing it.
Bibliography: Voltaire Candide. 2006. Project Guttenberg. 28 May 2008 web Abstract: This paper discusses rhetorical and logical devices utilized in Voltaires Candide. Outline: Introduction Main part and Conclusion
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