Voltaire's View of War

Voltaire’s View of War In Candide or Optimism, Voltaire demonstrates a somewhat unique conception of war for his time, and manages to do so with something of a regard for humor. Throughout the book, Voltaire points to the oddities of war from all angles. He exposes the worthlessness of concepts such as honor and glory on the battlefield itself, he indicates that the causes of war are never sufficient, and that the leaders themselves …showed first 75 words of 677 total…

…showed last 75 words of 677 total…dismembered women and children. This was all to be expected, as the village had been burned in accordance with international law. This is to say that the law played some sort of role in treachery to which Candide had been a witness. The idea that all of the horror surrounding the war between the two powers had somehow taken place with a respect for the rule of law could be considered nothing less than absurd.