Analysis of Voltaire's philosophy in Candide

In Candide, Voltaire uses sarcasm to explain his viewpoint of "reason plus action". His philosophy is that it is not enough simply to believe in certain values and morals, but it is more important that the actions a person takes reflect those beliefs accurately. In addition, Voltaire argues that life experience is necessary to the function of reason, meaning that the more experiences someone has had in their life, the more knowledge they will have, …

… his message through subtle details as well as blatant sarcasm. This allows readers to identify with the characters and the story line, but more importantly, to understand the author's viewpoint on life. Voltaire's real premise in Candide was not just to make fun of other philosophers at the time, but also to teach valuable lesson to his readers: Life experience is a necessary part in defining who you are and what you believe.