Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne"

E104069

Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" is a philosophical reflection in verse that questions optimism and divine providence in the face of human suffering, written in response to the catastrophic Lisbon earthquake.

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All labels observed (5)

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf philosophical poem
poem
addresses innocent suffering
natural disasters
relationship between God and evil
associatedWorkOfAuthor Candide
author Voltaire
circulatedAs pamphlet
countryOfOrigin France
createdBy Voltaire
criticizes philosophical optimism
theodicies that justify suffering
form verse
genre didactic poetry
philosophical poetry
hasEnglishTitle Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-linksurface differs
surface form: Poem on the Lisbon Disaster

Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-linksurface differs
surface form: Poem on the Lisbon Earthquake
hasSubject 1755 Lisbon earthquake
surface form: Lisbon earthquake

suffering of earthquake victims
historicalContext aftermath of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake
inspiredByEvent 1755 Lisbon earthquake
language French
literaryForm poetry
literaryMovement Age of Enlightenment
surface form: Enlightenment
mainTheme critique of optimism
divine providence
human suffering
problem of evil
theodicy
notableFor early modern critique of optimism
poetic treatment of the problem of evil
originalLanguageTitle Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-link
surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
period 18th century
philosophicalContext Enlightenment debates on theodicy
philosophicalInfluenceOn later discussions of the problem of evil
philosophicalPosition skepticism toward providential explanations of evil
publicationYear 1756
questions Leibnizian rationalism
surface form: Leibnizian optimism

idea that this is the best of all possible worlds
justice of God
meaning of suffering
relatedConcept best of all possible worlds
divine justice
moral evil
natural evil
title Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-link
surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
writtenInResponseTo 1755 Lisbon earthquake

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

1755 Lisbon earthquake influenced Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne"
Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" title Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-link
subject surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
this entity surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" originalLanguageTitle Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-link
subject surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
this entity surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" hasEnglishTitle Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-linksurface differs
subject surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
this entity surface form: Poem on the Lisbon Disaster
Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" hasEnglishTitle Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" self-linksurface differs
subject surface form: Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne
this entity surface form: Poem on the Lisbon Earthquake
Château de Cirey relatedWork Voltaire’s poem "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne"
this entity surface form: writings of Voltaire