Isaac- Frankenstein/Creative Project
1. Does Mary Shelly's Frankenstein confirm or disconfirm Rousseau's "State of Nature,"/Hobbes' "State of War?"
I feel that Mary Shelly's monster most definately disconfirms Hobbes' concept of a state of war that exists as his view of primordial man for the reason that though the monster's interests do conflict and lead to violent interactions with Frankenstein and others, what Hobbes suggests is the plight of man, these interactions are not what he intentions or wishes. As it is with mankind, the monster is driven to these spouts of conflict through misunderstanding and miscommunication that come out of being a sentient being that does not understand what constitutes its existence. I do not interperet violence to be an intrinsic part of the monster's disposition but merely a method he learns to use as a means to an end. I had a harder time understanding Rousseau's "State of Nature," and will make no steadfast statements on the matter but it seemed to me that the monster's nature did confirm it for the reason that man's propensity to love and seek comfort in a mate was more readily touched on as opposed to being pushed aside. Don't we all just want to be loved?
2. What is a problem that faces you?
The biggest problem in my life right now is a philosophical one about which one of two life strategies is the right path for me. On one side is a path of war against all those things I perceive to challenge me and oppress me, a philosophy I have coined in my head, "kicking and screaming." This life path is subversion, combat, and most likely, as I can rationaly see, an impossible fight I could only possibly carry out to know that I didn't make any compromises. On the other side is a path of learning to compromise with those things I cannot change and making peace with them. This is a rather vague entry.
I feel that Mary Shelly's monster most definately disconfirms Hobbes' concept of a state of war that exists as his view of primordial man for the reason that though the monster's interests do conflict and lead to violent interactions with Frankenstein and others, what Hobbes suggests is the plight of man, these interactions are not what he intentions or wishes. As it is with mankind, the monster is driven to these spouts of conflict through misunderstanding and miscommunication that come out of being a sentient being that does not understand what constitutes its existence. I do not interperet violence to be an intrinsic part of the monster's disposition but merely a method he learns to use as a means to an end. I had a harder time understanding Rousseau's "State of Nature," and will make no steadfast statements on the matter but it seemed to me that the monster's nature did confirm it for the reason that man's propensity to love and seek comfort in a mate was more readily touched on as opposed to being pushed aside. Don't we all just want to be loved?
2. What is a problem that faces you?
The biggest problem in my life right now is a philosophical one about which one of two life strategies is the right path for me. On one side is a path of war against all those things I perceive to challenge me and oppress me, a philosophy I have coined in my head, "kicking and screaming." This life path is subversion, combat, and most likely, as I can rationaly see, an impossible fight I could only possibly carry out to know that I didn't make any compromises. On the other side is a path of learning to compromise with those things I cannot change and making peace with them. This is a rather vague entry.
posted by mickeyknox at 8:07 PM
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