Final answer:
Voltaire's concept of the world as the best possible world represents his criticism of Leibniz's optimism and belief that God created the best world. Through the character of Pangloss, Voltaire satirizes this belief and promotes critical thinking and questioning of the status quo.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Voltaire's philosophy, the idea that this world is the best of all possible worlds represents his criticism of the optimism of Gottfried Leibniz. Leibniz argued that because God is all-powerful and all-knowing, this world must be the best possible world that could exist. However, Voltaire disagreed and used his character Pangloss in the novel Candide to satirize this belief.
Through the character of Pangloss, Voltaire portrays the dangers of blind optimism and the belief that everything happens for a reason. Despite the extreme suffering and violence that the characters in Candide experience, Pangloss insists that this world is the best possible world. This represents Voltaire's criticism of Leibniz's philosophical concept and his belief that humans should not accept the world as it is but should work towards improving it.
Overall, Voltaire's portrayal of Pangloss and his concept of the best of all possible worlds highlights his skepticism towards blind optimism and his promotion of critical thinking and questioning of the status quo.