These past couple of weeks, we have focused on Jonathan Swift, Francois-Marie Arouet de Voltaire as well as Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Each of these meshed together various concepts floating around the globe and as philosophers, wisely crafted their own perceptions and conclusions concerning philosophical matters together into stories that have retained their popularity for some time now. Out of all of these authors and stories, the two that stood out the most to me were Voltaire and Rousseau. 

     Voltaire's "Candide" gave me a crick in my neck from all the moments where dialogue that was exchanged called for nothing but a simple shaking of the head. Yes. A bit extreme at times but definitely a true representation of how people still think today. I'm not completely opposed to the words of Pangloss or completely for them since there was truth spoken by each and every character presented by Voltaire. Candide, which can also be defined as optimism, reminds me of what American culture believes they would like to see in citizens. Why is that? Candide reveals an overwhelming sense of tolerance, open-mindedness, and optimism. Who wouldn't want to be patient and capable of dealing with the scenarios and opposition thrown at them? Who wouldn't want to be sincerely open-minded and respectful towards varying perspectives? Who wouldn't want to be considered a optimistic person rather than a pessimist who can only see the glade half empty? If there's no room for positive change or outlook, then how can we expect a positive progression? 

     Pococurante is another interesting character in Voltaire's story. This character appears to find no satisfaction in any of his possessions but seems to desire better, more, or has given up completely in there being any satisfaction in certain areas of life. It's super easy to laugh at Pococurante's ways or ridicule his greedy habits but how guilty are we as humans of this exact same thing? We may say it isn't true but our hearts do seem to think that bigger is always better. Is there true joy in being above everything? What happens once you've reached the top or capped out? Is there an everlasting satisfaction or a temporary happiness that slowly dwindles into discontentment from not having anything less to conquer? Are the richest people actually happy? Is there true contentment in a world that desires and builds bigger and better things that work as a catalyst for our greed? Pococurante did not seem satisfied or content with what we had but he definitely appeared demeaning and prideful towards those that believed in contrast to his thoughts and opinions. It's funny because that appears to be the normal human reaction when we feel that we are above something or extremely well versed into particular aspects of life. Pride. It's a dangerous thing.

Pride: a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

     A correlation that stuck out to me the most was at the very end of the story when the final purpose of life seemed to surround "cultivation" and nothing more or less. For some reason, a bible verse came to mind:

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." James 2:26

     Faith apart from works is dead. I believe this could be what's missing in the lives of many. They live and cultivate but without any real purpose or motivation except that it may seem like the right thing to do or in the case of Candid, being told it's what you should and must do, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. What is the point of cultivation without purpose? What is expected to come from this sort of lifestyle? Disappointment maybe but otherwise, I believe there is an emptiness and feeling of ignorance that comes with working frivolously without purpose. Of course, we can learn to be content with this feeling and live and be merry for today for tomorrow we die. Will this change the final outcome of life? No, but for some people, truly living for something bigger than themselves without regards for themselves requires to much of a lack of interest in one's self.

     As I mentioned earlier, Rousseau was another interesting author to me. This could be because I could definitely see him being an INFJ but a hippy INFJ which is type of person I've never met before. Rousseau's imitations of St. Augustine's confessions in order to simply share and keep himself known (in my opinion) just makes me laugh a bit. His brutal honest about certain occasions makes me laugh. I love the honesty concerning his past loves, first experiences and understandings of his sexual nature, and more than that, his connection he had with family members that seems far stronger than most bonds between a boy his age and anyone. Rousseau was an extremely sensitive child. I believe he was an INFJ. Regardless of his Myers-Briggs type, Rousseau demonstrated a trait within all people that we either acknowledge or refuse to see because we are "too busy keeping it real."

    Rousseau reveals the dueling nature found within people as we fight for good when it seems we naturally feel like we are leaning towards doing bad. Rousseau's honesty about his struggles and embarrassing/slight inappropriate moments that he uses to try and truthfully represent his struggle with life. The way in which Rousseau wrote demonstrates his desire for individuality and chance to express himself with others. My obsession with his bravery in this probably originates from the fact that being truthful with about ourselves with ourselves and those around us is difficult and can be extremely uncomfortable for others. I'm beginning to experience the freedom of true and unbound thought sharing through my journal. After traveling to Peru, I became fond of journaling and feel that I can be most transparent with my thoughts to God when written out. Maybe this is what Rousseau felt as well. That writing out his thoughts gave him freedom, comfort, and assurance that he was being real with himself (for the most part). Overall, I think honesty stands out the most in theses pieces whether it's sincere or completely false. In life, we are constantly struggling to be honest with ourselves but more than that honest with others. We struggle with both because we want to please those around us as well as preserve our pride. Honesty will forever be a struggle of man.

"Pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in the world is done by children." Oliver Wendell Holmes

After doing a presentation of Baudelaire and Voltaire, I felt the need to emphasize pride and the dangers and failures that come along with that mentality. Only in pride, can we declare "our feelings are hurt!" because in actuality, there's no such thing. The only thing that hurts is our pride. After speaking on the sincerity and openness found in Rousseau's writings. This semester, I've had the opportunity to share my testimony with numerous people and what a relief and struggle all in one to lay out my history and present whether it's good, bad, or ugly. There is a freedom and a weight that is lifted in confessing to others our everyday interactions that mean the most to us. More than that, it means much to have a listener. Someone who actually hears you is better than that. From this blog, I can say that Candide has challenged me to know myself better and what I believe and why to a greater extent. To argue with others? Not necessarily. I simply desire the peace that comes with a solid foundation that gives me peace to believe in and live according to.