Derzhavin's religious ode "Uspokoennoe neverie" is directed against a pessimistic worldview, which developed in Russia under the influence of Voltaires "Poème sur le désastre de Lisbonne" and other writings. In his turn, Voltaire polemicises with a phlosophy of optimism based on Leibniz's Theodicy. In dealing with these questions Derzhavin clearly sides with J.-J. Rousseau's "Lettre sur la Providence" and its criticism o Voltaire's reaction to the earthquake von Lisbon. His own solution of the problem is characterized a spirit of the religious Enlightenment.
