8. Near the end of the book, while Pangloss was “being hanged, and dissected, and beaten, and made to row in a galley,” he still holds firm to his original views that this is the best of all possible worlds. “I am a philosopher after all. It would not do for me to recant” (p. 88). What are the dangers in holding beliefs that are impermeable to reality, that do not alter according to actual experience?
The dangers in holding beliefs that are impermeable to reality make you unaware or cautious of death.
A: When you hold the belief that all is meant for good then you ignore the idea or truth of certain things which could possibly lead to “certain death” and isn’t the goal to stay alive? Pangloss believes that he is put in each situation for a particular reason. For instance while he was enslaved on the boat with the Jesuit,”The Baron” he says that it meant to be when Candide found him. That everything that happened to him should have because it led him back to Candide, yet in his face you could see the bare truth of how he felt which happens to be the exact opposite. So is it humanly possible to have this mindset.
11. Martin believes that man is equally miserable wherever he lives and that even in cities which are free from the ravages of war, “men are more devoured by envy, cares and anxiety than all the tribulations visited upon a citadel under siege. Private griefs are crueler even than public miseries” (p. 56). Is Martin’s view more accurate than Pangloss’s, or does it simply represent the other extreme? Would you agree that “private griefs are crueler even than public miseries”?
A: I believe that Martin has the view of the realistic extreme, while Pangloss has a less realistic extreme. They both believe in their opinions strongly, and for something to become real all you have to do is make it so in your head. Just because there positions are polar opposites doesn’t make one right and one wrong. Private griefs aren’t necessarily any crueler than other tribulations. Things like such are justified off your own mental strength and ability to withdraw from certain situations and make the best of them like Pangloss. More or less like Martin who will dwell on the idea that God has left us to suffer is personally a weaker standpoint. In some eyes that makes me stronger, in others weaker.
I do agree with her response to question number eight. I also I think that since the Age of Reason area is a period in history in the 18th century in France, England, etc. characterized by a critical approach to religious, social, and philosophical matters. In this case that means everywhere that Pangloss and Candide travelled there was several different religious beliefs. Some people of power in the different countries will disagree with Pangloss philosophical belief. The Portuguese authorities was one of them who disagreed with Pangloss belief. This bring danger to Pangloss. The Portuguese decied to hang Pangloss for his opinion on the earthquake that happened in Libson.
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