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: Suffering isn't the theme of Candide, btw; : in it, Voltaire explores the many paradoxes : generated by the definitions of a human being : in vogue during the XVIIIth c. (much as Montaigne : had done in the XVIthc., in his _Apologie de : Raymond Sebon_). Is man a being of reason? : An animal? God's creature? A creature having : dominion over others and himself? A being of : pion and superstition? Don't forget that : Voltaire was an admirer of and advocate for : the philosophy of Locke, who redefines humans : as sentient beings--which sort of shelves : the 'creature of God' stuff. Locke was concerned : with Man as he is, rather than of man`s origins. : Candide's exploration of paradox in defining : human nature can also be traced to Voltaire's : admiration of Alexander Pope. "Presume not God : to scan, wrote Pope, The proper study of mankind : is man." Yet Pope also gets Leibnitzian when : he writes "Whatever is, is right." This irks : Voltaire, and Candide splendidly illustrates : how buggy and paradoxical such a view of man : and his universe (not "His" universe, btw <g>) : can be. : And a footnote to te suffering issue. : Fortunately <grin> we've come a long way : from in understanding human suffering. : Science can produce gesics and anesthethics; psychology and criminology are maturing. : This implies that pain and suffering are being : effectively addressed. : Cheers, : YJ : jingting@magma.ca

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