Peer Pressure

In Chapter 14 of Candide the Voltaire targets people who take advantage of others. Cacambo, Candide’s new slave, strongly believes in this principle. If you have an opportunity to take advantage of someone for your own benefit do it: “When you don’t get what you expect on one side, you find it on the other. Fresh sights and fresh adventures are always welcome” (62). It is the same principle as cheating. If someone can copy off their neighbor’s paper without studying and receive the same grade, enjoy it. There is no reason to pass on an opportunity like that one. I can understand why that can sound interesting but the problem is, when there is no one to copy from you are lost. We many times realize our mistakes to late, because we did not pay attention to what others told us.

Voltaire is trying to imply the wrongdoing in taking advantage of others. This can be confused with taking advantage of situations, but it is totally different. When you take advantage of something you have to do it according to a certain moral standing. If you are taking advantage of something and by doing it you are not being moral don’t do it. The human desire to always have more can be very powerful. The only way to stop that desire is by being rational. Candide did not strike me as a person who would do this in his rational mind but his thinking is impaired. Since he is in a tough spot and cant find any moral solutions, he takes the easy way out. I wonder if Candide would have done the same thing if he hadn’t met Cacambo. You can many times make a decision due to others influence. We learned this in Radio labs Choice and it makes a lot of sense. It is where the principle of peer pressure comes from.