326: Candide by Voltaire

<p>With special guest Longinus, P&amp;C drink and review Carlsberg, then discuss Candide as part of their &quot;shortcut to the classics&quot; series. </p> <p>The boys give a short review of his life. Voltaire was a pillar of the Englightenment. </p> <p>In Candide, Voltaire employs biting sarcasim against the idea that this is &quot;the best of all possible worlds.&quot; Candide suffers through &quot;one damned thing after another,&quot; but continues to have the sunny outlook of his teacher, Pangloss. Everything must be for the best. </p> <p>Eventually Candide meets Martin, another philosopher with a very different view, which allows Voltaire to have some debates between these two life outlooks. </p> <p>Leibnitz believed that this is the best possible world, because if God is good, he must have picked the best of all possible worlds. </p> <p>Voltaire thought this was ridiculous, and wrote Candide as a response. </p>