Analysis Of What Are People For? By Wendell Berry

514 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Family in society

Humanity’s technological progressions have separated us from other species, but what are the motives of this progress? And are they truly for the better good? In this passage from What Are People For?, Wendell Berry argues that technology is motivated by greed for money and ease when it should be focused on improving communities and loving God, our families, and our country. But does a desire for money mean that people don’t love these things? No. On the contrary, it is often motivated by the fundamental trait of humanity to care for their family and community. Wendell Berry argues that “the aim” of technological progress “cannot be the integrity or happiness of our families, which we have made subordinate to the education system, the television industry, and the consumer economy” (3-5). But it is two of these things that are often an element of caring for one’s family. Caring for one’s family entails that someone works their hardest to give the best possible life and future for them. One of humanities aims is still the integrity of those close to them, which often it is ensured through …show more content…

Yet there are infinite examples of technologies which have the exact purpose of doing these things that have had extreme success. One prominent example of this is the cellphone. Before the cellphone was invented, if a family member moved, they would be complete diverged from their family with no hope of being able to communicate with them. But today, even if a father or mother is away because of work, their children will not have to suffer from the agony of not being able to see their family. Because of the cell phone, family bonds have become stronger than ever as physical barriers between parents and children cannot inhibit emotional

Show More
Related

  • An Analysis Of Wendell Berry A Half-Pint Of Honesty

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “A Half-Pint of Old Darling”, by Wendell Berry, being honest is an important factor in a relationship. Miss Minnie and Ptolemy Proudfoot are a prime example as such when they keep secrets from one another, but then fix some things with the truth. They head over a major road bump that is eventually solved after being honest with one another. It seemingly makes their relationship stronger when the story concludes. Most of the secrets are kept in fear of hurting the other, which ends up happening one day when Tol sneaks Old Darling alcohol into their buggy. It is seen that hiding the truth means one is not being honest to his or her self, as well as to another. In this story, secrets leave speculation as to just how well Miss Minnie and Ptolemy Proudfoot’s relationship really is, and if things end up changing after a huge mistake.

    Read More

  • Wendell Berry's What Are People For?

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    What are people looking for? Wendell Berry writes in his book, “What are people for?” a thesis that modern culture is destroying the agricultural culture. He feels that technology is seen and used as the easy way to produce food faster and more efficiently. With this modern way of farming comes the idea that we need to work smarter, not harder, which is not always true.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Outside The Solar Village One Utopian Farm

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    In, Outside the Solar Village One utopian Farm, by, Wes Jackson, he explains about the expressions of human beings and how nature fills the world with such great full things. He explains how every community can enhance to become something that their children and their children’s children will want to continue on as their ancestors did to live and grow, instead of leaving. We think that technology can save us money but it doesn’t always save us money. Sometimes technology ends up costing a lot more than we think it will in the end and robs from our natural recourses.

    Read More

  • No Utopia Found in Wendell Berry’s What Are People For?

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    The preface to Wendell Berry’s What Are People For? is in the form of a two-part poem, titled “Damage” and “Healing.” By carefully digging through its cryptic obscurities (“It is despair that sees the work failing in one’s own failure”), we find the main message: The more diminutive, local, and settled a culture, the healthier it is and the less “damage” it inflicts upon its people and the land. Berry can be called a utopian but not in the traditional sense. He pines not for the future but for the past. Basing his lifestyle upon his boyhood memories of fifty years ago as well as America’s pioneer days, Berry is confident he has found the answer to the perfect existence.

    Read More

  • The Loss Of The University Wendell Berry Analysis

    755 Words  | 2 Pages

    Wendell Berry, an American novelist, shares his thoughts on education in the article, “The Loss of the University.” In this article, he talks about the disciplines of education in universities, and how the modern university has grown, but not according to the principle of education. He uses an example of a tree which stands for education and the branches, which establish the liberal arts. The trunk stands for the major and the branches are the classes that support your major. For example my major is HES which is the trunk and the branches will be be biology, chemistry and speech classes these classes support what I do for my major. Berry is concerned about how universities are dealing with education as a business. They are not making the education grow, but selling it to the students. For him education is something that should prepare students

    Read More

  • Technology's Impact on Brain and Lifestyle: A Comparative Analysis

    1424 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mr. Richtel, though, doesn’t seem content to let people go about their lives without realizing the potential ramifications overuse of technology might have on their lives. By shining a spotlight on an actual family, he seeks to show his readers how families in the modern age truly exist, and perhaps to have his readers recognize behaviors similar to those described in the article in themselves, and make a conscious effort to try to change their habits.

    Read More

  • Comparing Henrik Ibsen's Enemy of the People and Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every day I use technology and science, from the allergy pill I take to my cell phone and my Apple watch, technology is a vital part of my day. Are the human values of integrity, honesty and kindness a part of my everyday life, though? Everyone wants to believe they are a good person, but there are so many things in life that aren't good or positive at all, it is apparent that people-who want to think they are good-do mean things. Some of the worst things are done with some of the best intentions, with the idea that the ends justify the means. Science can improve several things, like one's life expectancy, but can it improve the quality of life? Science without morals to support it can be a dangerous thing. This is seen in several of the works we have read this semester, including Henrik Ibsen's Enemy of the People and Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five.

    Read More

  • David Tabachnick's The Great Reversal

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    Technology has already illustrated that it can corrupt us, for instance the ease of access to information. What reason do I have to learn the material if I can always look it up? With this in mind, Tabachnick’s last two chapters survey various responses to the limitations which we possess, that ceases our ability to grasp the need for attention and habit formation that characterizes the “phronesis revival.” For instance, Tabachnick’s focuses on the chief challenge that threatens any effort to revive phronesis in a technological age: “We have handed over our decision-making process to a range of technical experts specialists, and managers and have thus left few if any sources for relearning the practice of the virtue. He asserts that “technical innovation must be directed by the higher virtues such as those associated with family, community, education, politics, and philosophy”; and “technical production has to be preceded by the ethical mastery or self-discipline of the passions” (Tabachnick 116). In other words, a society that puts a priority on family, education, community, and law will be provided with a foundation to make good decisions about how to live a good life. Consequently, Aristotle argues that contemporary society is missing “this foundation of education and role models” (Tabachnick 115). Above

    Read More

  • Huxley's Brave New World

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today, in 21st century United States, people are concerned with the fast pace of new and growing technology, and how these advances should be used. In the last decade alone we have seen major advancements in technology; in science, cloning has become a reality, newer, more powerful drugs have been invented and, in communications, the Internet has dominated society. There is a cultural lag due to the fast rate of increasing technology, and while the governments of the world are trying to keep up their role as censors and lawmakers, we as individuals are trying to comprehend the effects it has on our lives. Will these advances enhance our lives to an unprecedented level of comfort, or lead to the loss of actual happiness? In the early 1930's, when Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World, this was a question he felt was worth asking.

    Read More

  • Exponentially Growing Ignorance and Greed

    1145 Words  | 3 Pages

    Back when there were not rapid advances in technology, people were living agreeably amongst each other. They used candles, wrote letters, and invested their time in reading and gaining more knowledge. They did not have all the luxuries people have today, but they were content. They valued education, the arts, and hard work. In Europe, people such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo, Copernicus, Monet, Einstein, and others strove to depict the beauty of their world and find explanations to natural phenomena. Richard Eckersley wrote, “It doesn’t make evolutionary sense to believe humans lived in misery until we discovered technological progress.” When people did not realize the potential of technology, they lived their life in contentment. Once people became aware of the fact that they could perform tasks quicker with the newer technology, they began wanting more of it. Scientists began researching and conducting experiments to enhance the new inventions. As they found ways to produce items...

    Read More

  • Ignorance Is Ignorance

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.” A very ignorant proverb, yet popular in the English language. Humankind has challenged many important tasks at hand. Anywhere from finding food and sustenance, to developing theories of the existential. But due to Ignorance and laziness of humankind. The preposterous idea of a dystopian future of “The Machine Stops” written a century ago is becoming a modern day reality. In fact, when comparing the society of twenty first century to the one envisioned by E.M. Forester, the role of technology in society is identical. Also, the idea of conforming to society has created an illiterate culture shared by both societies, reinforcing the fact that both societies are related. In contrast the settings the two societies exist in are different, this gap gives the society of the twenty first century to adjust and correct the future.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Cell Phone Usage on Our Social Life

    1604 Words  | 4 Pages

    Twenty-five years ago, a phone was just a way to contact someone. Mobile phones have become one of the most common tools of communication for both young and old. Cellular devices have redefined relationships and social conduct, and transformed the daily lives of many individuals. Cell phones no longer function just as a communication device. Today it has many other uses.

    Read More

  • Cellphones Impact Family Relationships

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    As mentioned above, cell phones encourage children to spend most of their time on the Internet, rather than spending quality time with their loved ones. This increased social isolation forms a barrier between family members, as they struggle to participate in verbal communication. Hence, traditionalists believe that getting rid of cellphones all together will form stronger bonds between family members as they would have to share information verbally. If families can no longer hide behind a keyboard to express their thoughts and emotions, a new sense of confidence and trust is developed. These family ties lead to traditional events such as, discussing one’s day during family dinner or expressing your emotions during family game night. Nonetheless, this traditionalist view comes at a cost: people currently live in the digital age and the lack of technological skills would put users at a disadvantage. Despite this setback, those valuing tradition will support the idea that cellphones negatively impact family

    Read More

  • Impact of Technology on Family Life

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    I think that technology has had both positively and negatively impacted the family life in our society. But I think the positive effects out way the negative ones. In this term paper I will focus on how cell phones, internet, and home security systems. These are only a few of the technology that has affected family life. I will first talk about the positive effects then I will explain the negative effects.

    Read More

  • Technology Then to Now

    2023 Words  | 5 Pages

    Humans have always searched for a way to make things faster, stronger, smarter, better....for mankind. This, it was widely thought, would make life easier. With the advancements made in technology throughout the millennium, the way of living did get easier. In the thousands of years that had passed, man had gone from living in caves to living in houses, from speaking in grunts to having a formal written and spoken language, from hunting and teaching, to hunt for mere survival, to going to school and working in a place of some sort to provide for your family, from barter and trade to a formal monetary system, from clans to cities and states; yes mankind was on the up and up, and blazing trails at record speed.

    Read More

More about Analysis Of What Are People For? By Wendell Berry

Open Document