Candide Skeleton

Question: For what purpose was the world made?

Answer 1: “To drive us wild.” (Voltaire, 178)
There are many astounding and confusing things in this world. As Martin says, “I do not see anything particularly strange in that passion. I have seen so many extraordinary things, that nothing seems extraordinary to me now.” (Voltaire, 178) The only reason for this wide array of wonderful and horrible, ordinary and extraordinary, simple and complex in this world is to drive man crazy. Some of it is even rooted in man’s own nature. “I have been a hundred times upon the point of killing myself, but I was still fond of life. This ridiculous weakness is, perhaps, one of the dangerous principles implanted in our nature. For what can be more absurd than to persist in carrying a burden of which we wish to be eased? to detest, and yet to strive to preserve our existence? In a word, to caress the serpent that devours us, and hug him close to our bosoms till he has gnawed into our hearts?” (Voltaire, 143) This is crazy within itself, and whatever created human nature has most certainly created it so we must struggle with it, and in the process of doing so, drive ourselves wild. This disputes Aristotle’s function, which states “The proper function of a man, then, consists in an activity of the soul in conformity with a rational principle or, at least, not without it.” (Aristotle, 8) But for this, one needs a definition of rational, which, could in fact, be what we view as “crazy”, if it is taken as human nature to be rational.

Answer 2: To show the best of all possible worlds.
This world is the best of all possible worlds, and that is why it was created. As Pangloss says, "All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds." (Voltaire, 106) and “It is demonstrable…that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end.” (Voltaire, 106) Some may ask, “If this is the best of all possible worlds, then why is there so much evil in this world?” An appropriate response to this would be “Joy and woe are woven fine, A clothing for the soul divine. Under every grief and pine Runs a joy with silken twine.” (Blake, lines 59-62) There is evil in the world only to make man see how precious good is, as reflected in the excerpt from the poem above. Joy and woe coexist in order for joy to be valued so much, in the same way fine silk is valued. Also, if this is the best of all possible worlds, it makes one wonder, “If this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others?” (Voltaire, 122)

Answer 3: To test men for the next world.
Some believe that Earth is merely the entrance exam to paradise, or some other, better world. I know not if it is a better world, per se, but there is some support to the idea that Earth comes before other worlds. For example, in an untitled piece written by Voltaire, Socrates says, “I died peacefully at the age of seventy; and since that time I pass a happy life with all these great men whom you see…” (Voltaire, 3) Socrates proved himself in the mortal realm of Earth, and so he deserved to pass on to live in another world with other great men who have proved themselves. As noted in a footnote after John the Anabaptist’s noble death, “The wicked will survive” (Voltaire, 118). Men have to work hard to not be wicked; they have to work against what some would say to be their very nature. “Work then without disputing… it is the only way to render life supportable” (Voltaire, 222). By working in the garden of the world, it is the only way to pass the test set and go into the next world. “Man was made for joy and woe; And when this we rightly know Through the world we safely go.” (Blake, lines 56-58). When man works to fully understand both joy and woe, he shall pass unto the next world.