Breaking Bad: Marx and Epicureans

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Walter White exaggerates and pushes some of the Marx's and the Epicureans view of life to an extreme which along the way destroys his family, causes harm to others and at the end even kills him. Karl Marx's philosophy was to bring the full potential of each persons ability(2) and for that person to do that job. The Epicureans had a view that being freed of fear along with that pleasure would bring the greatest good. (1) Walter finds great pleasure in making his meth, he also does so with his greatest intent to be the best that he can be. Walt in compasses these views of the Marx's and the Epicureans. But he does so in a most deranged way, a way that neither conforms to the overall view or practices of these two philosophies. Walt changed significantly throughout the show. In these changes, there were actions, these actions had consequences. These consequences left Walts family and Jesse shattered, many people ending up blended up in barrels and many more killed. Walt was a genius when it came to chemistry, others recognized this, on the contrary, Walt only saw his genius when he looked at his Nobel prize he once helped win. His full potential was trapped deep inside a timid middle age man that was unambitious. He was too weak to stand up to his wife and contempt to teach high school chemistry even though he had been co creator of a now multi billion dollar science corporation, Gray Matter. Instead of him his son looked up to Hank, Walts brother in law because Hank lived an exciting life as part of the DEA task force. Hank saw action, locked up bad guys and carried a weapon. But Walts full potential was there, eager to get out. Alongside was his massive ego unknown to him until the day he was rushed to the ER. You've got mustard on your shirt, Walt replied disconcerting with a monotone voice to the doctor. Walt had just heard he had lung cancer but it would be weeks before his family even knew. Walt would emerge a new person before JR, Marie and Hank found out. Walt would be reborn unto a new life of manipulation, crime, and cold hearted murder in these short weeks. Marx believed that work affirms oneself. Marx said peoples abilities and to be able to work at those abilities brings fulfillment.

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