Reading Response for "The Way to Wealth," by Benjamin Franklin
This selection is little more than a collection of Benjamin Franklin's proverbs from "Poor Richard's Almanac." That being said, there is an immense amount of wisdom and wit contained in this reading.
The whole piece relates to the subject of wealth - the gaining and the keeping. The many pithy quotes can be summarized as follows: Work hard, live within your means, and don't get into debt - if you do these things, you will be successful in life. The saying, "A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees," gives honor to the diligent, working-class man, but takes it away from the wealthy man who has fallen prey to idleness and debt.
The particular saying, "At the working man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter," seems reasonable and good, but based on the problems afflicting the working poor, as evidenced in Ehrenreich's study, we know it may not be this simple. Has our modern American system warped our view of hard work and the reward it should bring?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Reading Response: Evaluation from Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich
In her evaluation chapter, Ehrenreich sums up everything she learned in her minimum-wage-work experience, what the problems with the system are, and how they might be remedied. Unfortunately, not much of what she says is anything profound, and she has almost a self-righteous, arrogant twinge in her voice.
However, I was intrigued and enlightened by how she described the working poor in the last section of the chapter. "When someone works for less pay than she can live on -- when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently -- than she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made of a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life." Though I always try to treat everyone with respect and kindness (chatting with and thanking the cafeteria and janitorial workers, cleaning up after myself, etc.,) this quote very poignantly brings the state of our society into perspective. The work that minimum-wage workers do is not done because it is "all they're worth" or because we "deserve" their assistance. On the contrary, we are the recipients of a gift, and if we started acting like it, maybe things would actually change.
In her evaluation chapter, Ehrenreich sums up everything she learned in her minimum-wage-work experience, what the problems with the system are, and how they might be remedied. Unfortunately, not much of what she says is anything profound, and she has almost a self-righteous, arrogant twinge in her voice.
However, I was intrigued and enlightened by how she described the working poor in the last section of the chapter. "When someone works for less pay than she can live on -- when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently -- than she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made of a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life." Though I always try to treat everyone with respect and kindness (chatting with and thanking the cafeteria and janitorial workers, cleaning up after myself, etc.,) this quote very poignantly brings the state of our society into perspective. The work that minimum-wage workers do is not done because it is "all they're worth" or because we "deserve" their assistance. On the contrary, we are the recipients of a gift, and if we started acting like it, maybe things would actually change.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Hearthside and Heartache
Reading Response: Nickel and Dimed, section 1.
Barbara Ehrenreich did a gutsy thing when she decided to take on an intense journalism assignment; for a month she would live as a minimum wage worker to see if it was possible to make ends meet on such a small salary. She soon discovered, though, that it was impossible to remain cool and distant from the troubles and heartaches of the working poor when she was living as one.
One thing that she specifically complained about, which stood out to me, was having to wait tables for "Visible Christians." Those who were most noticeably believers tended to be the worst customers. "The worst, for some reason, are the Visible Christians-like the ten-person table, all jolly and sanctified after Sunday night service, who run me mercilessly and then leave me $1 on a $92 bill." As a strong Christian myself, it disheartens me when those who claim to follow Christ fall so disgustingly short and seem to think that they are exempt from acting like regular, respectable members of society.
So far, I like this book. The author is witty and the subject is engaging. I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms. Ehrenreich's adventures as one of the working poor.
Barbara Ehrenreich did a gutsy thing when she decided to take on an intense journalism assignment; for a month she would live as a minimum wage worker to see if it was possible to make ends meet on such a small salary. She soon discovered, though, that it was impossible to remain cool and distant from the troubles and heartaches of the working poor when she was living as one.
One thing that she specifically complained about, which stood out to me, was having to wait tables for "Visible Christians." Those who were most noticeably believers tended to be the worst customers. "The worst, for some reason, are the Visible Christians-like the ten-person table, all jolly and sanctified after Sunday night service, who run me mercilessly and then leave me $1 on a $92 bill." As a strong Christian myself, it disheartens me when those who claim to follow Christ fall so disgustingly short and seem to think that they are exempt from acting like regular, respectable members of society.
So far, I like this book. The author is witty and the subject is engaging. I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms. Ehrenreich's adventures as one of the working poor.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Making and Knowing
Reading Response: Hannah Arendt's Human Condition, pages 294-325.
"What is the difference between 'how' and 'why?'" My biology professor asked us this question when one of my classmates wondered why a certain reaction took place. He was quick to point out that science can only answer the "how" questions and never the "why" questions because asking "why" demands knowledge of a motive. There is no experiment that can determine motives - there are only experiments useful for observing how something happens.
Arendt seems to say that this view is modern. It makes sense when you think of ancient philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato - they were so focused on the whys! Plato's forms, for example, gave a reason for why we humans are able to identify and distinguish objects from one another. Philosophy and science were tied closely together throughout ancient times.
In modern society though, especially in modern America, science is solely focused on the hows, rather than the whys. Perhaps this is because of the "separation of church and state" and scientists are fearful to venture out into the whys. Perhaps we shouldn't even try to tie science and philosophy together because maybe we have a better scientific method now. Maybe we're just lazy, and observable phenomena are more appealing to our minds than the tough meat of philosophy.
"What is the difference between 'how' and 'why?'" My biology professor asked us this question when one of my classmates wondered why a certain reaction took place. He was quick to point out that science can only answer the "how" questions and never the "why" questions because asking "why" demands knowledge of a motive. There is no experiment that can determine motives - there are only experiments useful for observing how something happens.
Arendt seems to say that this view is modern. It makes sense when you think of ancient philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato - they were so focused on the whys! Plato's forms, for example, gave a reason for why we humans are able to identify and distinguish objects from one another. Philosophy and science were tied closely together throughout ancient times.
In modern society though, especially in modern America, science is solely focused on the hows, rather than the whys. Perhaps this is because of the "separation of church and state" and scientists are fearful to venture out into the whys. Perhaps we shouldn't even try to tie science and philosophy together because maybe we have a better scientific method now. Maybe we're just lazy, and observable phenomena are more appealing to our minds than the tough meat of philosophy.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Action and Calling
"For in every action what is primarily intended by the doer, whether he acts from natural necessity or out of free will, is the disclosure of his own image." - Dante
Is "calling" something for which we strive, or is it something in which we find ourselves? Rebecca Sweeney, after having been fired from sixteen jobs, had a lot of thinking to do on the subject. Those things that she thought she wanted to do (becoming a doctor, for example) she was never able to attain, and those things she never dreamed of doing she found herself in over and over again. In a profound statement, she said, "My idea of calling now is not: 'Come.' It's what I am doing right now, not what I'm going to be. Life is a calling."
I think her observation is a very wise one - one that ought to be heeded by many people today. It's disheartening that so many young people especially seem to have this notion that they must wait to "begin their lives" until after they get into college, or graduate college, or land their first job, or get married, or any number of "callings." Wouldn't life be much more fulfilling if every moment was seen as a calling? I think so. I'm trying to live my life with that mindset...I'll let you know how it turns out.
Is "calling" something for which we strive, or is it something in which we find ourselves? Rebecca Sweeney, after having been fired from sixteen jobs, had a lot of thinking to do on the subject. Those things that she thought she wanted to do (becoming a doctor, for example) she was never able to attain, and those things she never dreamed of doing she found herself in over and over again. In a profound statement, she said, "My idea of calling now is not: 'Come.' It's what I am doing right now, not what I'm going to be. Life is a calling."
I think her observation is a very wise one - one that ought to be heeded by many people today. It's disheartening that so many young people especially seem to have this notion that they must wait to "begin their lives" until after they get into college, or graduate college, or land their first job, or get married, or any number of "callings." Wouldn't life be much more fulfilling if every moment was seen as a calling? I think so. I'm trying to live my life with that mindset...I'll let you know how it turns out.
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