Once again: Locke and Someone Else

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Yet again, I see a parallel with Locke. In Chapter 1, Voltaire spends an entire paragraph giving a caricature of the things Pangloss teaches to Candide. Every single one of these statements, when viewed by John Locke, would be seen as a trifling statement due to the nature of how Pangloss asserts the truths he teaches. Locke's ideas of a trifling statement have various types, but these of Panglos fit into the category of those which have one idea predicated upon another when they truly do not have anything to do with each other in cause-effect. Even moreso, Pangloss assumes a necessity of that which is not completely necessary, even to existence. Voltaire, I believe, as is shown throughout this satirical tale, is painting, even in chapter 1, an image of Pangloss as a tutor that is completely inadequate and questionable. Locke preceded Voltaire by a couple of years, thus Voltaire might, I emphasize "might" due to location, have read him. If this did happen, it seems that Voltaire is even stating that Pangloss is not even worth his salt in knowledge or understanding, thus undermining his ability to teach even more.


P.S. I commented on Michael and Ethan's posts.

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 25, 2017 at 11:54 PM

    I love that you picked up on this identification (of course according to Locke's terminology). Indeed, Pangloss' teachings fit Locke's trifling propositions. It would be interesting to research Voltaire's background to see if possibly others of Locke's interpretations were incorporated into his literary works.

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