Essays on Voltaire

Level 4 (UG Year 1): Coursework Cover Sheet [last update October 2013]

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The paper analyzes different aspects of the modernity in Judaism and distinguishes the crucial characteristics of the Continue reading...

Throughout history, philosophers have often clashed heads in regards to the definition and understanding of the human self. Many have formulated a myriad of theories that attempt to decipher the true meaning and motivations of the human self. Two of the moist prolific philosophers of the exploration of this aspect were Immanuel Kant and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was an American philosopher born and raised in Massachusetts. On the other hand, Kant lived in an earlier era and was German by birth. It was Kant’s original transcendental deductions that later acted as an influence to the New England Continue reading...

CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE OF PLATO’S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is drawn from his tremendous works on the Republic. It is literally a conversation that takes place between Socrates and Gaucon. The conversation is categorized into three parts. The first section is the scene within the cave. According to Kernan, the second part of the discourse deliberates on the three stages of liberation and the third creates a picture of the prisoner returning to the same cave.
The scene in the cave is one of gloom and darkness, with prisoner chained and unable to move around, even their heads could only face one Continue reading...

This text helps the bodhisattva put into practice all the teachings of Buddha and this eventually leads to supreme happiness that comes through the medium of enlightenment. The bodhisattva is described as an elevated Buddhist who can attain nirvana but actually delays such an attainment due to his compassion for the suffering beings. This is an exhaustive covering of the essence and foundation of the bodhisattva’s way of life. The text is divided into three major parts
- How the text is introduced
- How the text is explained

The Pre-eminent Qualities of the Author

As is customary with such texts there needs to Continue reading...

The enlightenment refers to the sprawling of intellectual, social, philosophical, and cultural movement that spread through France, England, German, and other parts of Europe during the 1700s. Enlightenment thinkers advocated for self-autonomy in thinking, free of the limitations of traditional authority. The process of “modernity” traces its origin to this movement, as an heir, with seeds implanted in this period. Evidently, the process began with a vision of an autonomous free individual, but later contributed to the instrumental means-end thinking that has shaped modernity. The writers of the enlightenment mastered everything they regarded as worth learning, ranging from science Continue reading...

In a world where most people will only be interested in those things that satisfy their selfish whims, it is unlikely that one would passionate about the general happiness of others in the society. The concept of happiness is an emotional state of wellness that is manifest by the exuberance of pleasant emotions that emanates from a feeling of contentment and joy. However, this definition at best does not capture all the multi-facets of happiness as it may be construed by different persons. Disparities in meaning and construction have been raised by commentators who confine happiness to the hedonistic Continue reading...

Introduction

Cultural beliefs illustrate theories, facts, norms, values, or principles that individuals need to uphold while in the society. The society has a perception on various issues that surround an individual’s life. As such, the individual needs to adopt the perceptions and uphold them while in a given social setting. The following discussion gives an analysis of women, gender, and sex in the rise of western civilization. The discussion makes use of great philosophers and historians who provided different arguments about the topic in order to prove certain points. A comparison and contrast between the works of Jean Jacques Continue reading...

Discussion on the Record of Linji

It is for this reason that his question to the head priest, Huangbo, brought him the beating that is the norm in the Buddhist teachings. Huangbo hit him with the rattan, which was a ten-foot bamboo pole, used for this purpose. The teachings that Linji adhered to were part of the Buddhist monastery teaching that involved beating and shouting. He asked the question three times, and was beaten three times. The idea was for him to receive enlightenment, but he clearly did not get that. If he had been mindful and enlightened, there would have been no need for Continue reading...

It is scarcely possible to describe the history of music without reaching the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart is well known and celebrated as being one of the greatest composers and musicians in recorded history, and for good reason. Very few individuals in history have had such a profound and pronounced effect on their field as Mozart has, and a testament to this can be read from the symbolism and thematic content of his magnum opus, The Magic Flute. It is an ostensibly light-hearted fairy-tale opera that served as a convenient introduction to the genre and continues to Continue reading...

Discussion on the Record of Linji

The search for truth is within each man. As a young monk, Linji did not quite understand the truth of what one should be as a person in the light of Buddhist teaching. He was a simple down to earth person, and spent his days minding his own business. His question to the head priest, Huangbo, brought about severe retribution. Huangbo hit him with a ten-foot bamboo pole. The use of the rattan that was popular in the Buddhist monasteries and especially in the teachings to which Linji was exposed. This happened three times, after he asked the question: Continue reading...

Enlightenment connotes to the transitional process that involve positive significant development. The cited enlightenment has been in existence from the 17th century to the contemporary times. However, the cited enlightenment for instance industrial revolution has elicited myriad debate on its effectiveness coupled with the success. Categorically, myriad challenges have been identified in the enlightenment process. The mentioned challenges such as political, economic and social have instigated untold suffering to the myriad populace. The paper endeavors to explicitly extrapolate on industrial revolution as the failure of enlightenment.
Agreeably, enlightenment has significantly changed the status of specific nations. For instance, industrialization Continue reading...

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David Hume one of central figures of Scottish Enlightenment said “The Christian religion not only was at first attended with miracles, but even at this day cannot be believed by any reasonable person without one.” This is an ample evidence of his rational and logical thinking. He always argued in favour of proof in order to establish the truth – making him one of the strongest rationalists and also establishing himself as an empiricist. Continue reading...

Paul Heyer begins the work on the history of communication from the analysis of his understanding of the Enlightenment as a separate period and of its historical value. He points out that John Locke’s Essay on Human Understanding can be chosen as an indicator to frame the period of Enlightenment. He continues the thought about the Age of Reason claiming that for the first time science and reason focused on the comprehensive examination of elements of human nature, society and history. Such point of view tended to differentiate itself from the theological and abstract metaphysical systems that took Continue reading...

The poem of Elizabeth Bishop entitled ‘Manners’ is an artistic representation of the etiquette in the past. It also differentiates the proper etiquette or manners of the old fashioned and the new age which could be observed from the relationship of the grandchild and the grandfather. The focus of the poem is to depict the proper manners during the early times in history. However, the poem could be a satirical depiction of how the old people accept and apply the traditional codes of the society in terms of civility and ethics. It is also a depiction of how these Continue reading...

“Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift is considered one of greatest satirical literary works in the world literature heritage. To the great extent “Candide” ranks Voltaire on the same level of significance as one of the greatest satirists in the world literature.
Satire is “a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule”. (Literary Devices) The goal of satire is improving humanity by means of criticizing and mocking its foolishness and weakness. In satire a writer uses fictional characters, which actually hint at Continue reading...

Enlightenment, love, experience, and even chaos and the brutality of war- the word ‘war’ here used to include a wide array of conflicts and disagreements that result in various kinds of brutality- are central themes in many philosophical discussions. Many of these discussions discern these aspects, but also find the interrelationship between them, either implicitly or explicitly. The readings in class: Shirane’s Traditional Japanese Literature, De Barry’s discussions in the Sources of East Asian Tradition, among others do the same, offering their various insights into these elements and more (often implicitly). But most importantly, these sources show Continue reading...

According to a recent scholarly opinion, Buddha sometimes lived between fifth and forth century BCE. But there are several controversial views on the exact birth of Buddha. The author gives a thorough review of the ancient Indian social system. Sanskrit was the prominent language, and the society was divided into different segments, what we can call a social hierarchy. On the apex of the hierarchy was priest or Brahmans. ‘The priests, or brahmanas (anglicized as “Brahmins”) occupied an elite position in this early, village-based society’ (Berkwitz 14) While telling the reason of the highest position of Brahmin Berkwitz (p.14) Continue reading...

The enlightenment period or the age of enlightenment as it is commonly known is a period in the 18th century where the smartest minds of the time tried to explain formerly unexplainable phenomena using scientific methodology and reasoning as opposed to tradition and faith which were more puritan ideals (Nina, 365). Everything at the time was subject to critical reasoning. Some of the fields that faced the reasonable critique were politics, religion and most importantly literature. Before the enlightenment period the dominant force on knowledge was religion, especially Christianity. The 18hth century saw major transformations with many believing that Continue reading...

The enlightenment thinkers espoused the use of logic and reason over tradition, religion, culture and logic. The aim of enlightenment thinkers was to give a logical foundation to a philosophy. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a prominent intellectual figure during the age of enlightenment. He is mostly recognized as a political theorist and philosopher. Rousseau’s first philosophical work won him a prize from the Academy of Dijon. This work was a critique on the fundamental propositions of the enlightenment. He questioned the nature of human inequality, whether it was “natural”. Rousseau argued that the advancement of science and art led Continue reading...

When it comes to religion, most people nowadays hate the idea of a dogmatic belief. If we turn back the time, many scholars and artists reacted on the dogmatic teachings of the Roman Catholic Church during the period of enlightenment. Some expressed these reactions in writings and some in artworks. The scholars in the 18th century started to question the hierarchy of truths that the church’s Magisterium is protecting. The age of enlightenment is also referred to as the age of reason. It was a big movement aimed at freeing the minds from its slavery from the teachings Continue reading...

The poem of Elizabeth Bishop entitled ‘Manners’ is an artistic representation of the etiquette in the past. It also differentiates the proper etiquette or manners of the old fashioned and the new age which could be observed from the relationship of the grandchild and the grandfather. The focus of the poem is to depict the proper manners during the early times in history. However, the poem could be a satirical depiction of how the old people accept and apply the traditional codes of the society in terms of civility and ethics. It is also a depiction of how these Continue reading...

Throughout the sixteenth century, numerous scientific revolution had taken place, and they changed the manner in which the political, religious and developmental issues took place up to the eighteenth century. Margret Jacobs gives an insight to this explaining some of the origin of the entire ideology of enlightenment in the western societies. She enables the readers to understand the trajectory of the concept through the argument that there is an importance of having the revival of the academic work of the past through the upheaval and renaissance related to the reformation of the Protestants and the works of science. Continue reading...

World literature Topic Literature always gives an opportunity for people to explore the cultural diversity in the society. Most literary works, as depicted in the works of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, V1:1801-1900, Candide, VII: 97-159, and Popol Vuh, V1: 1905-1920 bar plots that were obtained from different sources, showing the rich research embraced when coming up with the texts. In line with the distributed plays, acting versions, feedback, and adjustments can moreover shed light on decisions made in performing the plays. The listed texts, especially basing on their cultural perspectives that people always accentuate to, can regularly help a Continue reading...

Questions

FIRE AND WATER
The case referred that success and growth can only be achieved with the down to earth behavior. Leaders with the aggressive behavior like fire can only conquer things for the short term and in the end would be left with nothing. Contrasting to this behavior, water adapts to the changing behavior and suitability of the situation and the environment and wins the support of all. Hence, a leader with the behavior like water will have a long term success.

THE LESSONS OF THE BABBLING BROOK

The case in reference to the battlefield had explained that success is subject to various factors. The Continue reading...

Romanticism refers to a period that had literary, intellectual and artistic movement. The movement originated in Europe in 18th century but it was at its top between 1800 and 1850. It was at its peak during this time because of industrial revolution. The revolution was against political and social norms that enlightenment brought. Romanticism had a reaction that was against scientific rationalization of nature. People expressed their emotions through music, poems and visual arts.
During the age of enlightenment, a group of people believed that reason and science were good and it could improve things for the better. It Continue reading...

Religion is one of the major themes portrayed in candied. Voltaire’s mockery is mainly focused on religion. Voltaire criticizes religion throughout the entire book. He brings out religion as morally bankrupt and corrupt. The religious figures in Candide include the Jesuit baron, the inquisitor and the protestant minister. Voltaire despises the corruption found in the clergy of the Catholic Church. An elderly woman helps Candide to re unite with his love, Cunegonde, after a long time. While on a ship, the three share stories of the experiences and troubles that they had gone through. Initially the old woman Continue reading...

‘Instructor’s Name’

‘Subject’
Literary Analysis of the Play Arcadia
Hayden White, in his essay titled "The Historical Text as Literary Artifact" argues that, every historian is a storyteller, and the ability to construe historical events into coherent narrative form is significant to the art of historiography. He conveys that literary imagination is crucial to a historian and stresses on the need to recognize that there is a fictive element to any historical narrative. This essay, by analyzing the play ‘Arcadia’ written by Tom Stoppard, aims to find out, how literary genre and literary elements used by the author alter or impact Continue reading...

Philosophical optimism is one of the major topics in Voltaire’s Candide. Throughout the story, Voltaire’s has employed satirical references to describe “the best of all possible worlds” as stated by Dr. Pangloss, contrasting them with the natural disasters and the evil that human beings engage in. Dr. Pangloss and Martin, major characters in the novel, have different views of the world. Dr. Pangloss is seen as an advocate of philosophical optimism, believing that everything is for the best and that evil exists as a means to the greater good (Mason 4). He sees everything as being for Continue reading...

Philosophical optimism is one of the major topics in Voltaire’s Candide. Throughout the story, Voltaire’s has employed satirical references to describe “the best of all possible worlds” as stated by Dr. Pangloss, contrasting them with the natural disasters and the evil that human beings engage in. Dr. Pangloss and Martin, major characters in the novel, have different views of the world. Dr. Pangloss is seen as an advocate of philosophical optimism, believing that everything is for the best and that evil exists as a means to the greater good (Mason 4). He sees everything as being for Continue reading...

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The enlightenment period finds basis in the development of a new European culture in the eighteenth century. Defined as “mankind’s exit from its self incurred immaturity” (Schmidt 58), enlightenment called for independent thought for progress. By the end of the seventeenth century, society and cultures had changed drastically as opposed to the traditions that dominated humanity at that time. Otherwise referred to as the Age of Enlightenment, the Enlightenment Period saw a rise in a need to find cause and independence in matters found in the society. Consequently, the Enlightenment Continue reading...

For History Class

- What do thinkers see as enlightenment? What makes it possible? What hinders it?
Enlightenment is the emancipation of the human minds from the baleful clutches of blind faith and dependence. It brings human race on the verge of embarking upon a new path which would be guided by knowledge and reasoning. Thus, the mind would be freed from the prejudices and rituals to bring in the new era of advancement. The societal institutions, which have for long influenced the lives of innumerable people, stand in opposition to the emancipation of human mind and independence.
- What do they Continue reading...

Introduction

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) located in Sydney, Australia. The museum is dedicated to the exhibition, collection and interpretation of contemporary art pieces from Australia and other continents. The museum was the brainchild of John Power, an Australian expatriate. John’s intention was to educate and inform the Australian public on contemporary visual forms of art (MCA 2013, 1).
The Museum of Contemporary Art was officially opened in November 1991 (MCA 2013, 1). The exhibitions are housed in the former Maritime Service Board building at Circular Quay at the periphery of the Sydney Harbor. The state government decided Continue reading...

Introduction: Siddhartha Gautama

Buddhism is a religion or a way of life to about 300 million people all over the world. Buddhism was founded 2500 years in India when Siddhartha Gautama also known as Budha was enlightened. Buddhism is sometimes difficult to put into the box of religion or philosophy, because it lacks a central deity. The Buddha was not the creator of the universe; instead he achieved the highest personal actualization that a person can and was therefore “Enlightened.” That, rather than a creation story, is the central tenet of Buddhism. Buddhism then as a philosophy is not necessarily a religion, Continue reading...

Voltaire’s was a philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment whose most famous work is the novella Candide explores many of the popular schools of thoughts of the Enlightenment period. 1759, the year that Candide was first published was a time of great change of thought happening in Europe and the novel presents ideas found in three of the dominant school’s of thought, Rationalisms, Skepticism, and romanticism. By exploring these philosophies and showing how Candide treats them, we come to the conclusions that it was not Voltaire’s intent to support any of this particular schools of thought Continue reading...

The Europeans suffered oppression from the institutions of the government. The oppressions ranged from unfair taxations to feudalism. There were economic hardships in the country due to ineffective rulers that led to political conflict. The economic hardships led to food shortages. There was social bitterness between the two rising groups: the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. The government was monopolistic and it made rules without consulting the citizens.
The Europeans upheld the enlightenment because there was an impulse for reforms. The enlightenment would introduce new system of government and the most important one was sovereignty. The voice of the people Continue reading...

Modern culture is so saturated in satire that it is difficult to find works that pursue the authentic and the sincere. Once works like 1984 and Brave New World opened the floodgates of cynicism and skepticism that the events of the two World Wars made to seem the proper perspective. Today, works like The Onion make satire a part of the culture. Popular programs such as Saturday Night Live and Conan live off satire, which means that members of modern culture look at life with a half-satiric eye. In the time of the first modern satirists, such as Voltaire Continue reading...

Introduction: The topic of this paper is based on Voltaire’s universal belief that since all people on earth are creations of the Divine Creator, they should tolerate one another. Voltaire was a well-known French enlightenment writer, philosopher, deist and essayist of his time. He was an outspoken advocate of social reforms, and he didn’t fear the strict laws of France and the ruthless penalty given to those who broke them. He used satire to criticize Church dogmatism, and his relentless criticism led to his incarceration in 1717. Voltaire is best known for his “Universal Tolerance” belief that Continue reading...

Tibetan Buddhism is a religious doctrine body of Buddhist religious practices. This doctrine is common in Mongolia, Tibet, Kalmykia, Bhutan, Tuva and other parts of Hilmayas. It is composed of teachings about spiritual development used to achieve enlightenment of Buddhahood to efficiently help other sential beings. The Bodhichta is the mind of enlighten. Tibetan Buddhism is a doctrine that teaches methods of achieving Buddhahood. Buddhahood is a state of freedom from obstructions to liberations as well as omniscience.
What makes someone a Buddhist? That is one of the hardest questions that a person has ever asked me. A complete Continue reading...

In Candide, François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) humorously criticizes power, love, wealth philosophy, education, religion as well as optimism. Throughout this book, Candide does several things the wrong way, which the author uses to exaggeratedly elucidate the inhumanities of man in a humorous way. This paper seeks to discuss the role of humor as presented in Voltaire’s book, Candide, which is a humorous satire criticizing the aforementioned phenomena in the society in which he lived. The use of humor in this book assisted the author to reach his audience and reduced the amount of criticism for his book, considering Continue reading...

We can scarcely discuss why anything happens until we have a vital idea of what it is (Doyle, 2001). Almost any attempt to define the French Revolution too closely, however, will be tendentious, and exclude many of its complexities. Yet what it most certainly was not a single event. It was a series of developments, puzzling to most contemporaries, which prolonged over a number of years. It was a sustained period of uncertainty, disorder, and conflict, rumbling far beyond the borders of France. It began between 1787 and 1789.
The French Revolution was an epoch of radical, social and Continue reading...