I posted earlier and I'm still stumped on what Thoreau means when he writes "No man ever followed his genius till it mislead him."
I really need help from those into philosophy.
| Started By | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Im Chanandler Bong |
I really need help from those into philosophy. |
Lead | |
|
Posts: 6122 (10/06/2009 10:21 PM) |
|
||
 Kwis77 |
|||
|
Posts: 19530 (10/06/2009 10:41 PM) |
Have you read the context that follows that quote?
|
||
|
Mistress Darcy |
|||
|
Posts: 11693 (10/06/2009 11:00 PM) |
Is this homework?
I am trying to remember exactly what we talked about with that-I did this for my comps at the end of my MA degree, but Thoreau and all "those" people are not my strength. I am trying to remember if this is part of his discussion of "dual natures" and making the choice between the animal and the "better" part of your soul. |
||
|
DifferentialDiagnosis |
|||
|
Posts: 2089 (10/06/2009 11:06 PM) |
What do you need to know?
|
||
|
Im Chanandler Bong |
|||
|
Posts: 6123 (10/06/2009 11:27 PM) |
Well, we are only supposed to say what we think the sentence means. Not looking at what context it is in. So the next sentence can't be apart of it.
I'm completely stumped on what he's saying in it. |
||
|
Mistress Darcy |
|||
|
Posts: 11696 (10/06/2009 11:32 PM) |
That is a dumb assignment. I would just write anything then because any answer can be correct if you are supposed to pluck a random sentence from somewhere and
not consider who wrote it and why.
|
||
|
FirstStrike |
|||
|
Posts: 3057 (10/06/2009 11:41 PM) |
It's pretty simple, I think.
|
||
|
Im Chanandler Bong |
|||
|
Posts: 6124 (10/06/2009 11:45 PM) |
I agree.
Plus, I'm super insecure/scared now because last week a paper was due on a character analysis of the movie "Crash". I had the Sandra Bullock character (she has like 4 scenes total) and I got the lowest grade i've ever gotten on paper..a B minus. He didn't have much substance with his comments and whatnot and now I'm petrified. The next sentence is "Though the result were bodily weakness, yet perhaps no one can say that the consequences were to be regretted, for these were a life in conformity to higher principles." |
||
|
DifferentialDiagnosis |
|||
|
Posts: 2091 (10/06/2009 11:46 PM) |
Genius, as Thoreau used it, does not mean intelligence. In Transcendentalist terms, genius refers to the voice within, an inner guide that will always direct
one along the right path. When you follow your genius, you are acting as an individual and not conforming to society's norms.
|
||
|
SuperheroPip18 |
|||
|
Posts: 23879 (10/06/2009 11:54 PM) |
FirstStrike wrote:hahahahaha |
||
|
sarasum41chasez |
|||
|
Posts: 12307 (10/06/2009 11:59 PM) |
.
Edited By: sarasum41chasez
10/07/2009 12:05 AM.
Edited 2 times.
|
||
|
Im Chanandler Bong |
|||
|
Posts: 6125 (10/07/2009 12:02 AM) |
DifferentialDiagnosis wrote: Yeah, I agree. I used an example as a student who knows of an upcoming exam, doesn't so study whatsoever, in return recieves an F. After the fact of getting that grade, the student is now aware of needing to study for an exam, which helps avoid the F for future tests. I couldn't think of another example that doesn't sound as elementary. 
|
||
|
idontknowwhat |
|||
|
Posts: 8146 (10/07/2009 12:08 AM) |
I seriously thought that he was talking about accidental discoveries.
|
||
|
Im Chanandler Bong |
|||
|
Posts: 6126 (10/07/2009 12:10 AM) |
I've been reading this quote almost all day and I got the 'accidental discoveries' as well. I got like 4 different reads of it. That's why
I'm so confused. Like, when going against the grain it sometimes ends up in the favor of that person being innovative and whatnot.
|
||
|
idontknowwhat |
|||
|
Posts: 8147 (10/07/2009 12:15 AM) |
my first instinct was of someone accidentally discovering something (like for arguments sake, light, wheel, etc) and then followed his genius. technically it
mislead them because they weren't supposed to discover this thing, but once they did and realised it was genius, they were all for it.
i know it sounds weak but im trying to think of accidental discoveries to use as an example but am drawing a blank. this must be why i hate philosophy |
||
|
Im Chanandler Bong |
|||
|
Posts: 6127 (10/07/2009 12:18 AM) |
Yeah, I hate philosophy too. I'm fulling my hair out with this assignment. Thank goodness it only has to be a paragraph. If it was a paper I'd cut my
hand off.
|
||
|
idontknowwhat |
|||
|
Posts: 8148 (10/07/2009 12:21 AM) |
McKennaWasBanned wrote:that would be an interesting assignment to write! |
||
