Candide Socratic Seminar
Chapter 1 Discuss Pangloss’ philosophy. [p. 12, #2]
Chapter 2 Discuss Voltaire’s depiction of free will. [p. 15, #2]
Chapter 3 Discuss Voltaire’s depiction of religion. [p. 18, #4]
Chapter 4 Discuss Pangloss’ optimism. [p. 21, #1]
Chapter 5 Discuss the earthquake and its effect Chapter 5 Discuss the earthquake and its effect. What view is Voltaire expressing? [p. 26, #1]
Chapter 6 Discuss Candide’s reaction to the suffering of his loved ones. [p. 29, #2]
Chapter 7 What can be inferred by the re-appearance of Cunegonde. [p
Chapter 8 Discuss the conflict between the Grand Inquisitor and Don Issachar. What social criticism is revealed? [p. 34, #1]
Chapter 9 Discuss the character development of Candide. [p. 36, #1]
Chapter 10 Cunegonde and the old woman argue over who has the greatest suffering. What does this reveal about human nature? [p. 40, #2]
Chapter 11 The old woman had been exceedingly beautiful in her youth Chapter 11 The old woman had been exceedingly beautiful in her youth. What is revealed about our relationship with beauty? [p. 41, #1]
Chapter 12 Why has the old woman chosen to continue living despite a lifetime of suffering? [p. 50, #7-8]
Chapter 13 Discuss the character development of Candide. [p. 51, #1]
Chapter 14 Discuss the social criticism. [p. 55, #1]
Chapter 15 How are Candide’s views ahead of his time? [p. 60, #2]
Chapter 16 1. Are there natural laws of justice—or merely societal laws? 2. What is the effect of Candide’s killing Cunegonde’s brother? How does this impact Candide’s philosophical views? [p. 65, #2]
Chapter 17 Discuss the Eutopian village Chapter 17 Discuss the Eutopian village. Why does this archetype appear often in literature? [p. 69, #4]
Chapter 18 How does El Dorado reveal Voltaire’s religious views. [p
Chapter 19 Discuss the change in Candide. Why does he renounce Pangloss’ optimism? [p. 77, #3] 20
Discuss Candide and Martin’s philosophical debate. Chapter 20 Discuss Candide and Martin’s philosophical debate. [p. 83, #4] 21
Chapter 21 What is the significance of Martin’s comparison of human behavior with animal behavior? [p. 85, #1] 22
Chapter 22 Discuss the ironic behavior of the Parisians. [p. 88, #3] 23
Chapter 23 Discuss Voltaire’s views on nationalism. [p. 99, #3] 24
Chapter 24 Contrast Martin and Candide’s views. [p. 104, #3] 25
Chapters 25-28 [p. 111, #5] Why do we often assume that a critic has insight? [p. 99, #3] 2. Discuss Voltaire’s views of Leibniz.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz German philosopher. (July 1, 1646 – November 14, 1716) Beliefs Sufficient Reason. "There must be a sufficient reason [often known only to God] for anything to exist, for any event to occur, for any truth to obtain." Pre-Established Harmony: The appropriate nature of each substance brings it about that what happens to one corresponds to what happens to all the others, without, however, their acting upon one another directly."
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Optimism . "God assuredly always chooses the best.“ Plentitude. "Leibniz believed that the best of all possible worlds would actualize every genuine possibility, and argued in “Theodicee” that this best of all possible worlds will contain all possibilities, with our finite experience of eternity giving no reason to dispute nature's perfection."
Chapters 29-30 [p. 129, #9] Discuss the metaphor of the garden.