The Language of Composition, Chapter Six: Culminating Convo

According to Andrew Carnegie, the rich have a responsibility to use their wealth to create a better ________.

• society

• economy

• government

• environment

Answer explanation

Andrew Carnegie believed that the wealthy should use their resources to improve society, emphasizing the moral obligation of the rich to contribute positively to the community and enhance the lives of others.

If Andrew Carnegie believes that "in alms-giving more injury is probably done by rewarding vice than by relieving virtue" (para. 2), then what is his recommendation for "the best means of benefiting the community" (para. 3)?

Answer explanation

Carnegie recommends that the best means of benefiting the community is through the promotion of virtue and self-improvement, rather than through alms-giving, which can inadvertently support vice.

When Carnegie claims that "the millionaire will be but a trustee for the poor" (para. 4), what assumption about the relationship between the rich and the poor is he making?

Answer explanation

Carnegie assumes that the wealthy have a responsibility to manage their wealth for the benefit of the less fortunate, suggesting a moral obligation to use their resources to improve society.

What overall responsibility does wealth confer, according to Carnegie’s assertion that "the man who dies leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which was his to administer during life, will pass away 'unwept, unhonored, and unsung,' no matter to what uses he leaves the dross which he cannot take with him" (para. 4)?

Answer explanation

According to Carnegie, wealth carries the responsibility to use it wisely for the benefit of society. Merely accumulating wealth without contributing positively leads to a legacy that is ultimately unrecognized and unvalued.

What attitude toward money and wealth is suggested by Carnegie’s title, "The Gospel of Wealth"? To what extent do you think that his philosophy is consistent with the spirit of the title?

Answer explanation

Carnegie’s title, "The Gospel of Wealth," suggests a moral obligation to use wealth for the greater good. His philosophy aligns with this, advocating for philanthropy and responsible stewardship of riches, reflecting a benevolent attitude toward wealth.

In his opening paragraph, Bertrand Russell says, "The happy life is to an extraordinary extent the same as the good life." What does he mean? Is this statement paradoxical?

Answer explanation

Russell suggests that a fulfilling life (happy) aligns closely with a morally good life (good). This isn't paradoxical; rather, it emphasizes that true happiness often stems from virtuous actions and living ethically.

According to Russell, what would the traditional moralist say about the belief that "love should be unselfish" (para. 2)?

Answer explanation

The traditional moralist would argue that the belief 'love should be unselfish' is misguided, as they see love as inherently tied to personal fulfillment and self-interest, rather than purely altruistic.

What does Russell mean by his claim that "the whole antithesis between self and the rest of the world... disappears as soon as we have any genuine interest in persons or things outside ourselves" (para. 2)?

Answer explanation

Russell suggests that when we genuinely care about others or the world, the divide between our self-interest and external reality fades, fostering connection and empathy, which enriches our understanding of existence.

What does Russell mean by "a citizen of the universe" (para. 2)?

Answer explanation

By "a citizen of the universe," Russell refers to an individual who identifies with all of humanity and the broader cosmos, transcending local or national identities, promoting a sense of global responsibility and interconnectedness.

What are the implications of the two central metaphors—the spaceship and the lifeboat—that Garrett Hardin uses for his argument?

Answer explanation

Hardin's spaceship metaphor suggests a closed system with limited resources, advocating for population control. The lifeboat metaphor emphasizes the need for selective aid, highlighting the moral dilemma of resource allocation in a finite world.