English 273: Ahhh, Enlightenment!

The Age of Enlightenment is also known as the Age of Reason, a time when rationalism and a mechanical view of the cosmos supplanted a more organic model. This was also the time when society began to shift towards Industrialism, Urbanization, and all those other hallmarks that we mark as modernity. Check out this website for a succinct yet detailed account of the Enlightenment, the historical and philosophical background leading to this new Era, and the tenets of the major thinkers, including our very own Voltaire.

In Candide, Voltaire critiques the German philosopher Leibniz, and has a great deal of fun showing the folly of his way of thinking via satire. What does Voltaire have to say about the rational, scientific, Enlightenment model versus the optimistic argument that everything is for the best? How are Enlightenment values, philosophies, etc. prevalent in contemporary society? Do we see any problems with the Enlightenment view of the world?