Exploring the Generic Essay

September-08-08
6:08 PM

1.
i. Amenable - Open to being acted upon in a certain way
ii. Supplicant - One praying humbly for something
iii. Philanthropy - Promotion of Human welfare
iv. Sonata - A musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting
forms
v. Utilitarian - Having a useful function
vi. Benevolence - Inclination to do good
vii. Altruistic - Unselfish concern of others
viii. Sublimation - A change from one emotion to another
ix. Indissoluble - incapable of being broken apart
x. Sentient - Consciously perceiving
xi. Ascetic - Pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice
of rigorous self-discipline
xii. Sage - A mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is
renowned for profound wisdom
xiii. Ethical - Moral principles
xiv. Superfluity - excess
xv. Potent - effectiveness or influence
xvi. Moralist - Someone who demands exact conformity to rules and
forms
2. The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
3. -
i. Russell's definition of a good life is the desire to live a life as far as
possible and to see others living it. Life should also be governed by
love and knowledge so more desires are satisfied.
ii. The role of knowledge is to guide people from making ill decisions,
since people who are not intelligent will be content to believe what
they are told to believe. The poles of love are pure delight in
contemplation; pure love, and on the other pure benevolence;
sympathy.
4. -
i. References to Tolstoy, who was a advocate for peace.
ii. ``Feeling toward human beings, some of whom have charm and
some the reverse, when considered simply as objects of aesthetic
contemplation.``
iii. `` I do not think there is, strictly speaking, such a thing as ethical
knowledge.``
iv. He references Tolstoy and his views on war.
v. What authorities can control is whether you are to be punished or
rewarded, and you should appeal to them.
vi. The author chooses many allusions to history, and religion. He also
draws the reader in by placing rhetorical questions within the essay.
vii. His facts are based off previous history i.e., war, and the plague.
There are very little facts supporting what he says, because he
begins by saying this was his idea of what a good life is, which
explains the absence of any facts backing his idea up.

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