Slate-colored Glasses

We all knew a kid in grade school who acted out no matter how many times they got in trouble for it. Voltaire was that kid. By the time he turned twenty-four, he had already been exiled and imprisoned at Bastille for his writing criticizing the church and the government. He pushed back against what he considered oppressive authorities and schools of thought, even pushing against some Enlightenment ideals.

Rational thinking was championed during Voltaire's time, but he even questioned that, wanting people to do more than theorize upon and discuss the issues of the time. Further, a fellow writer, Leibniz, wrote in his Monadology that God made everything happen in the world, so the world was essentially good (a common Enlightenment belief among others, as well). Voltaire believed more pessimistically. He thought the belief that all events were divinely prescribed led people to complacency. He saw injustices in the devastating earthquake in Lisbon and in the seven-year's war in which Europe was involved. How could such tragedies be present in a "perfect world"?

Voltaire was greatly affected by the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon. It inspired
him to write Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne and influenced Candide.

I see this complacency in some modern conversations, especially on the topic of climate change. I've spoken with people who trust the scientific evidence that the climate is deteriorating at a faster-than-usual pace but think we shouldn't do anything about it because whatever happens is "in God's plan." I sympathize with Voltaire; this infuriates me. I understand that it's easier to ignore seemingly unsolvable issues by claiming there is nothing we can do, but it's equally as irresponsible.

Optimism often correlates with happiness and longevity. However, multiple studies have shown that pessimistic people tend to be generally more prepared, for stressors from job interviews to the death of a friend. I suppose it comes down to what we value more: blissful ignorance, like Leibniz, or candid realism, like Voltaire.


Image: Earthquake at Lisbon