Lesson 15-The damned Human race Part Two Backgroumd Iformation W BTL E ENTER
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race Part Two ENTER
Lesson 15-The damned Human race Background Information Contents I。 Author 工工。 Human Conscience III Attitudes Toward Conscience W BTL E BAC
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race I. Author II. Human Conscience III. Attitudes Toward Conscience Background Information
Lesson 15-The damned Human race . Author Mark Twain(1835-1901) was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida Missouri but lived as a child in hannibal Missouri, on the Mississippi river. He took the pen name Mark Twain from the call of the pilots on the river steamers, which indicated that the water was twelve feet deep a safe depth for a steamer. W BTL E To be continued on the next page
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race Mark Twain (1835-1901) was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri, but lived as a child in Hannibal, Missouri, on the Mississippi River. He took the pen name Mark Twain from the call of the pilots on the river steamers, which indicated that the water was twelve feet deep, a safe depth for a steamer. I. Author To be continued on the next page
Lesson 15-The damned Human race . Author During his early years, he worked as a riverboat pilot newspaper reporter, printer, and gold prospector. But then he turned to writing and became one of the greatest of American writers. Although his popular image is as the author of such humorous works as the adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn W BTL E To be continued on the next page
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race During his early years, he worked as a riverboat pilot, newspaper reporter, printer, and gold prospector. But then he turned to writing, and became one of the greatest of American writers. Although his popular image is as the author of such humorous works as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I. Author To be continued on the next page
Lesson 15-The damned Human race . Author Twain had the other side that may have resulted from the bitter experiences of his life: financial failure and the death of his wife and daughters. His last writings are savage, satiric, and pessimistic. The present text is taken from Letters from the earth one of his later works W BTL E The end of author
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race Twain had the other side that may have resulted from the bitter experiences of his life: financial failure and the death of his wife and daughters. His last writings are savage, satiric, and pessimistic. The present text is taken from Letters from the Earth, one of his later works. I. Author The end of Author
Lesson 15-The damned Human race II. Human Conscience Through conscience and its related notion, synderesis, human beings discern what is right and wrong. While there are many medieval views about the nature of conscience, most views regard human beings as capable of knowing in general what ought to be done and applying this know ledge through conscience to particular decisions about action. The ability to act on the determinations of conscience is moreover, tied to the development of the moral virtues, which in turn refines the functions of conscience W BTL E To be continued on the next page
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race Through conscience and its related notion, synderesis, human beings discern what is right and wrong. While there are many medieval views about the nature of conscience, most views regard human beings as capable of knowing in general what ought to be done and applying this knowledge through conscience to particular decisions about action. The ability to act on the determinations of conscience is, moreover, tied to the development of the moral virtues, which in turn refines the functions of conscience. II. Human Conscience To be continued on the next page
Lesson 15-The damned Human race II. Human Conscience Neither Plato nor Aristotle explicitly mention conscience, however It is their discussions of the virtues, practical wisdom, and weakness of will that form the critical backdrop to medieval discussions of conscience. These discussions were heavily influenced by Augustines modification of these classical authors For example, Augustine championed Plato's notion of the unity of the virtues, but he argued that love of God provided the unity to them Moreover, he claimed that what pagan authors regarded as virtues were in fact vices unless they were developed for the love of God W BTL E To be continued on the next page
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race Neither Plato nor Aristotle explicitly mention conscience, however. It is their discussions of the virtues, practical wisdom, and weakness of will that form the critical backdrop to medieval discussions of conscience. These discussions were heavily influenced by Augustine’s modification of these classical authors. For example, Augustine championed Plato’s notion of the unity of the virtues, but he argued that love of God provided the unity to them. Moreover, he claimed that what pagan authors regarded as virtues were in fact vices unless they were developed for the love of God. II. Human Conscience To be continued on the next page
Lesson 15-The damned Human race II. uman Conscience Aristotle's conscience can be defined as possessing three distinct characteristics Firstly, the conscience is intrinsic, although to varying degrees between individuals Secondly, the conscience is imperfect. Lastly the conscience is a source of good in the world. Stringing these elements together, a working definition of the conscience can be constructed as follows: The conscience is an innate sense of right and wrong that functions for social betterment W BTL E To be continued on the next page
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race Aristotle’s conscience can be defined as possessing three distinct characteristics. Firstly, the conscience is intrinsic, although to varying degrees between individuals. Secondly, the conscience is imperfect. Lastly, the conscience is a source of good in the world. Stringing these elements together, a working definition of the conscience can be constructed as follows: The conscience is an innate sense of right and wrong that functions for social betterment. II. Human Conscience To be continued on the next page
Lesson 15-The damned Human race II. Human Conscience As this definition takes into account only one perspective, it can hardly be considered adequate. Henry David Thoreau provides an excellent opportunity to expand it. In his essay entitled civil disobedience, thoreau defines two primary characteristics of the conscience although in a different light from Aristotle While both examine conscience in terms of a functional government, Thoreau takes a more idealistic approach W BTL E To be continued on the next page
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race As this definition takes into account only one perspective, it can hardly be considered adequate. Henry David Thoreau provides an excellent opportunity to expand it. In his essay entitled Civil Disobedience, Thoreau defines two primary characteristics of the conscience, although in a different light from Aristotle. While both examine conscience in terms of a functional government, Thoreau takes a more idealistic approach. II. Human Conscience To be continued on the next page
Lesson 15-The damned Human race II. Human Conscience Given that the conscience is intrinsic, imperfect, beneficial, imperative, rare, punitive, and rigid, the conclusive definition might be constructed as follows The conscience is an innate sense of right and wrong that creates a strict sense of guilt when violated and that, in its truest form, performs a vital role in social and personal betterment. It is a mechanism that evaluates the worthiness of our desires, urges, and actions. It is a moral compass that points to goodness and excellence W BTL E The end of human conscience
W B T L E Lesson 15—The Damned Human Race Given that the conscience is intrinsic, imperfect, beneficial, imperative, rare, punitive, and rigid, the conclusive definition might be constructed as follows: The conscience is an innate sense of right and wrong that creates a strict sense of guilt when violated and that, in its truest form, performs a vital role in social and personal betterment. It is a mechanism that evaluates the worthiness of our desires, urges, and actions. It is a moral compass that points to goodness and excellence. II. Human Conscience The end of Human Conscience