Nick Lubic
Dr. Adam Johns
Seminar in Composition
30 September 2008
What People Are For
The essence of my very being to this point in my life has been centered around accomplishment. Growing up, my parents always encouraged the utmost effort in whatever I set out to do, whether it was school related or something as simple playing my best in little league baseball game. Because of this, becoming an accomplished human being has been the backbone of my life up to this point. In doing so, I find myself one step closer to an overall goal, self enlightenment. I have attempted to find a sense of meaning and self awareness through these accomplishments which, I believe, is the reason for human existence. In Bill McKibben’s book Enough, a question arises that similarly relates to the way in which I lead my life and how I believe others should base theirs. This question is, of course, “What are people for?” (McKibben 94). The answer to this question lies within the goals and accomplishment you reach or, in some cases, do not reach along with an understanding of oneself.
My idea of the reason that humans exist can be connected to Silver’s view of human nature and capability in his book, Challenging Nature. In many ways, his ideas directly relate to what I believe people are for on this earth. Silver states in his preface, “Biotechnology could alleviate human suffering, increase the quality of life in all societies, and maximize the health of the biosphere” (Silver xv). He highly encourages human progress to be made in order for life to have a purpose and for humans to feel a sense of accomplishment in their lives. By solving physical problems with the world around oneself by way of technology, human beings will make a step in making meaning of their lives. My view on such accomplishment is a very different one than Silver is proposing. Much like the race that McKibben was running in the beginning of his novel, I feel that human accomplishment can come in several formats, including failure. Internal conflicts and goals that have no real effect on society are a key asset to human life. For instance, the marathon run that McKibben described in the beginning had no effect on the lives of those around him. However, value can be found in something as simple as this, because internal goals are being accomplished. Silver focuses mainly on physically accomplishing things that will positively affect others, while my view is more individualized. Therefore, people are meant to progress in whatever way they see fit, as long as accomplishment and meaning come out of it, people will progress and give humanity a purpose.
Also a key component of my answer to the question “What are people for” is the internal maturity throughout the progress of life Learning from mistakes and reaching a sense of self knowledge are part of being human, for without this, one cannot truly call themselves a developed person. Immanuel Kant emphasizes the importance of self enlightenment and maturity when saying, “If I have a book to serve as my understanding, a pastor to serve as my conscience, a physician to determine my diet for me, and so on, I need not exert myself at all” (Kant 1). To reach this enlightenment, Kant wants humans to mature and learn under their own will. I feel similarly, because without risks and self-imposed maturity, the very essence of human life is extinguished. Progress is part of being with human, and without a drive to learn and knowledge of the world around a person, there is nothing that separates him or her from an inanimate object.
In closure, the answer to the question, “What are people for?” lies not in what one accomplishes for society, but what he or she can accomplish for themselves, whether internally or externally. No real change needs to be made in society for human life to have meaning. Only a sense of accomplishment and self-awareness needs to be made for humans to be “human”. I see simple problems as steps in the process of becoming a more whole individual. When this occurs, the meaning of human beings becomes more apparent.
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3 comments:
What can I say about this, you have a strong point that makes alot of sense to me. Since the nature of this essay makes it very personal, there is no right or wrong. Since it is so personal there should have been more examples of ways that you try to find strength and knowledge by looking within yourself. And since I believe this ties in with Eastern thought, some nice philosophical Eastern quotes would have been a nice addition. YOur kant paragrpah was good, he played an essential role, and i like the last sentence of that paragraph. It was very original and philosophical of you. I do believe this was a strong essay, i certainly couldnt mount an argument against this, i dont believe anyone understanding could. Good job, you have actually gotten my questioning something, One could get the same amount or more, of meaning or happiness with the most rudimentary technology as with the most advanced, couldn't he? But if your meaning is to alleviate the suffering then the technology is necessary, so it really is relative. Sorry for rambling on but I had to wrtie this down.
Nick Lubic
Dr. Adam Johns
Seminar in Composition
5 October 2008
What People Are For
The essence of my very being to this point in my life has been centered on individual accomplishment. Growing up, my parents always encouraged the utmost effort in whatever I set out to do, whether it was school related or something as simple playing my best in little league baseball game. Regardless of how I performed, I was supported by my family and felt as if I was doing something with the talent I was given. Because of this, becoming an accomplished human being has been the backbone of my life up to this point. In doing so, I find myself one step closer to an overall goal, self-enlightenment. I have attempted to find a sense of meaning and self awareness through these accomplishments, which, I believe, is the reason for human existence. In Bill McKibben’s book Enough, a question arises that similarly relates to the way in which I lead my life and how I believe others should base theirs. This question is, of course, “What are people for?” (McKibben 94). The answer to this question lies within the goals and accomplishment you reach or, in some cases, do not reach along with an understanding of oneself.
The most obvious way that I believe I can justify what human life is for is to take a deeper look at how I lead mine. I regret to say that I am an Average Joe. Up to this point in my life, I have always been considered “good” at whatever I set out to do but never “outstanding”. Nevertheless, despite not being the best, I have found meaning in the small accomplishments that I have achieved, regardless of how important they may seem to others. For instance, the very act of finishing this paper will give me a moral boost in which a can thrive off, regardless of what grade I acquire. Petty goals and achievements such as this give my life meaning and are the reason I role out of bed every morning. For without this sense of realization, life through my eyes would be meaningless.
My idea of the reason that humans exist can be connected to Silver’s view of human nature and capability in his book, Challenging Nature. In many ways, his ideas directly relate to what I believe people are for on this earth, although our opinions also contrast each other. Silver states in his preface, “Biotechnology could alleviate human suffering, increase the quality of life in all societies, and maximize the health of the biosphere” (Silver xv). He highly encourages human progress to be made in order for life to have a purpose and for humans to feel a sense of accomplishment in their lives. By solving physical problems with the world around oneself by way of technology, human beings will make a step in making meaning of their lives. My view on such accomplishment is a very different one than Silver is proposing. Much like the race that McKibben was running in the beginning of his novel, I feel that human accomplishment can come in several formats, including failure. Internal conflicts and goals that have no real effect on society are a key asset to human life. For instance, McKibben’s marathon run had no effect on the lives of those around him. However, value can be found in something as simple as this, because internal goals are being accomplished. Silver focuses mainly on physically accomplishing things that will positively affect others, while my view is more individualized. Therefore, people are meant to progress in whatever way they see fit, as long as accomplishment and meaning come out of it, people will progress and give humanity a purpose.
Also a key component of my answer to the question “What are people for” is the internal maturity throughout the progress of life Learning from mistakes and reaching a sense of self knowledge are part of being human, for without this, one cannot truly call themselves a developed person. Immanuel Kant emphasizes the importance of self enlightenment and maturity when saying, “If I have a book to serve as my understanding, a pastor to serve as my conscience, a physician to determine my diet for me, and so on, I need not exert myself at all” (Kant 1). To reach this enlightenment, Kant wants humans to mature and learn under their own will. I feel similarly, because without risks and self-imposed maturity, the very essence of human life is extinguished. Progress is part of being with human, and without a drive to learn and knowledge of the world around us, there is nothing that separates us from an inanimate object.
In closure, the answer to the question, “What are people for?” lies not in what one accomplishes for society, but what he or she can accomplish for themselves, whether internally or externally. No real change needs to be made in society for human life to have meaning. Only a sense of accomplishment and self-awareness needs to be made for humans to be “human”. I see simple problems as steps in the process of becoming a more whole individual. When this occurs, the meaning of human beings becomes more apparent.
Giovanni - very solid response, but why do you assume that because something is personal it can't be right or wrong?
Nick - I think this is your best paper so far, just as a starting point. It's focused, witty, and does a good job of working with several different texts at once.
I don't think that anything is really "lacking," as such. You might have worked with a counterargument (either Silver or McKibben might well argue that yoru point of view is bordering on selfish), or you might have pushed yourself harder at some of the most interesting points. The most interesting moment, to me, was when you started to talk about failure as an accomplishment, or as an element of progress. Arguing that people are for *failure* would have been ambitious and weird, even if as only part of your argument.
This was good, but it's easy to see how it might have been more ambitious.
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