Introduction
Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and Voltaire’s Candide are pieces of literature that focus on money and its role in society. Both written at a time when philosophers had started questioning the relevance of capitalism and the concept of wealth creation, it is evident that the two authors were keen on explaining the power of money and how it is used in society. The Second Treatise of Government is political philosophy literature that was written by John Locke, an English Philosopher and a physician, at a time when Great Britain was going through a socio-cultural and economic revolution.
Candide is a satire written by Voltaire, a French writer, and philosopher. A careful review of the literature shows that they both have various common themes, especially on the concept of wealth creation and the power that comes with riches. However, the researcher disagrees with the statement that Locke’s second treatise of government and Voltaire’s Candide place the same value on money. This paper provides a detailed discussion of the two pieces of literature that demonstrates that the authors do not place the same value on many in the two works.
Discussion
Money gained a significant value as a unit of exchange and a store of value in Europe during the industrial and the colonial period. It was easy to conduct trade and to pay workers using this unit of value, as demonstrated in the works of the two European philosophers. Voltaire and Locke went through various similar experiences that informed the writings. Although there are common views presented because of these similar experiences, the researcher disagrees with the argument that the two kinds of literature place similar value on money. It is important to highlight the main points, which demonstrates that the authors have varying views about the value of money.
Wealth Creation
One of the main points which show that the two works do not place the same value on money is the process of wealth creation. According to Locke, wealth is created through hard work. Locke states that “each person owns his or her own body and all the labor that they perform with the body” (11). The way a person utilizes his body and intellect defines how much he can acquire. As such, individuals who spend limited time working are less likely to generate substantial wealth. On the other hand, those who spend a lot of time working generate a significant amount of wealth.
It is important to note that Locke, in his philosophical work, Second Treatise of Government, can only generate wealth through what they do. According to the author, there is no shortcut to wealth creation. One must work to get what they need, which in this case is money to purchase what they need. Locke defines labor as “the determining factor of value, the tool by which humans make their world a more advantageous and rewarding place to inhabit.” When one spends time working, they generate money that they can use to purchase items that they need.
In the satire Candide, it is evident that the author contends that there are different ways of creating wealth. One of the ways of generating wealth can be through hard work. Candid’s uncle, the German Baron, was a person who believed in working hard as a way of creating wealth (Voltaire 23). However, unlike Locke’s ideal environment where people only get what they worked for, Voltaire acknowledges the fact that there are always other unconventional ways of getting money. One such way includes stealing. When Candide and his friend Cacambo visited the land of Eldorado, they stole gold and jewels and escaped from the city. Unlike Locke’s ideal world, in this case, it is coming out clearly that sometimes people can use unscrupulous strategies to get money.
The Limit of Wealth Creation and Emergence of Money as a Store of Value
In the two texts, there is an acknowledgment that money is a store of value. In the book Second Treatise of Government, the author argues that one can only amass wealth that they can use within a given period. Locke argues that “a person may only acquire as many things in this way as he or she can reasonably use to their advantage” (13). If one has to create more wealth than they can use within a specific period, then they would have to find a way of storing the excess wealth, in which case money plays a major role. However, the book Candide presents a scenario where there is no limit to wealth creation. When Candide had the opportunity to steal goals and jewels from the land of Eldorado, he took more than he could use within a given period.
In this case, the author associates money with greed. It demonstrates that the more one gets to appreciate the value of money, the more they would want to increase their wealth. To Candide, money is more than just a store of value. It makes it possible to achieve socio-political as well as political goals (Voltaire 19). However, Locke feels that the value of money makes it a perfect tool for trade. Locke explains that “money fulfills the need for an imperishable valuation of worth, rooted in the property of labor” (14). In this case, money allows an individual to produce more than they can consume, sell excess, and then get a new store of value that can be used in the future.
Money, Power, and Expectations of the Society When Using Money
The power of money is demonstrated in the two books but in different ways. According to Locke, money makes it possible for one to go beyond subsistence production because of the power that it grants to one that can create it. Locke believes that “money, backed by labor and the natural rights of people, becomes the basis for expansion beyond the subsistence level of property” (16). Given that it allows an individual to produce beyond subsistence, it means that those who can produce more can get more money to hire others to help them with the production. They get to own and expand their means of production, which gives them power.
In this case, the value of money gives one the power to hire others to help them expand their wealth. In Candide, the value of money makes it possible to get away with crime, buy love, and achieve personal goals, some of which are self-centered. When he had no money, he was unable to marry Cunégonde, the love of his life. However, things changed when he came back with a fortune. Money gave him the power to meet his personal desires.
It is also evident in the Book Candide that society places a lot of value on money. Society expects those who are financially empowered to use their wealth to help their friends and relatives. Candide’s uncle, the German Baron, sent him away when he realized that Candide was dating his daughter (6). Cunégonde’s brother was also against the union between Candide and his sister because he believed Candide was too poor to be of any value to the family.
Locke, on the other hand, argues that society expects everyone to use money as a means of facilitating trade. The empowerment that arises from the value of money that one has should be used to facilitate great economic growth. Locke observes that “if I own a massive amount of land, and I pay people money to work the land, all the fruit on that land is still mine” (13). It means that one can use the money to increase personal wealth by paying others to work on their behalf.
Conclusion
Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and Voltaire’s Candide does not place the same value on money as shown in the discussion above. In the two pieces of literature, the authors explain the significance of money in different contexts. However, there is a significant difference in the arguments that the authors make in terms of how that wealth can be generated. The analysis above also shows that the two books have divergent ideas on how to use money when one has created it. Locke emphasizes the need to use the money to generate more wealth, while in Voltaire’s Candide, money is viewed as a tool that enables one to enjoy the leisure of life.
Works Cited
Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. Jonathan Bennett, 2017.
Voltaire, François-Marie. Candide. Read Books Limited, 2013.