TOW #16 - Predictably Irrational - IRB first half impressions

Freakonomics is a book about human nature. More specifically, it is about the irrationality that is inherently present in human nature, and how it can be studied, predicted, and from there, hopefully avoided. It is by Dan Ariely, an israeli American professor of psychology and behavioral economics. The books first half by and large examines how humans have an inherent difficulty in making truly rational comparisons. When our mind is met with a comparison, we do not understand how to filter out some small details that may appear completely unrelated to the situation. We cannot make the connection soemtimes, and we can use that to examine our own patterns of thinking and dismantle and examine every inch of our reasoning in an attempt to find that and make ourselves more logical people in that regard. He uses many different studies and other sceintific endeavors and obesrvations to support the claims that he makes, as well as personal anecdotes, and even more research. These all go a long way to legitimizing his points about human behavior, especially some of the studies being double blind and some not, so as to show the difference in results when human nature can interfere in with the results as opposed to not being involved at all. In fact, the use of this meta-data truly goes a long way to proving both his premise and his conclusion - that we are irrational, and that irrationality is predictable.

TOW #14 - Heroism by Ralph Waldo Emerson - Written

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a transcendentalist writer and orator who spent time in the Transcendentalist "utopian society" of Brook Farm, socializing and living alongside the likes of Henry David Thoreau. Emerson has published many, many essays and writings, his most popular being a series of essays about fairly broad topics such as Education or Heroism, and titled accordingly. This essay is titled "Heroism", and is an exploration of what exactly heroism is, and what importance it holds in our society as a construct. Emerson begins the exploration of what heroism using an excerpt from the Roman conquering of Athens. Sophocles, the duke of Athens, is to be executed, and he makes a thoroughly moving speech full of heroic ideals and thoughts that it turns Martius, the man meant to kill him, to truly respect Sophocles and change his life. Emerson uses that passage to define heroism using this as the ability to say and do the right thing, no matter what happens. He then goes on to talk about how important heroism is in our society, referencing the works of Plutarch and saying, "We need books of this tart cathartic virtue, more than books of
political science, or of private economy." He thiks that heroism is very important to society because it's important to let people know the truth, that they are born into a state of what is practically emotional, mental, and violent war at all times. Heroism is embracing that, but not abusing it. It's acknowledging the abysmal state of life but not losing one's mind over it, but maintaining one's composure and making a better time out of it. I find Emerson's essay to be very convincing, all of his claims are very effectively supported by evidence and excerpts.

TOW #15 - Softly; A Legend Passes by Harlan Ellison - Written

Harlan Ellison is a prolific writer, writing primarily in memoirs, essays, and short stories. The genres range from primarily science fiction to his own experiences. This particular piece, Softly; A Legend Passes, is an obituary for Julius Schwartz, agent, writer, editor, and overall creator. Ellison intends to both remember all of the great things that Schwartz did in his lifetime, and to use those events as evidence for his status as a legend amongst the world of writers. With this being an argument that is based on the quantity and quality of one's actions, not many types of evidence are available to Ellison in his writing than the use of anecdotes; this one-track mindedness is acceptable due to the restricitons placed upon him by his implied thesis. He organizes his points chronologically, starting with Schwartz's early career. He started his career as an agent, and Ellison outlines the two main authors whom he helped catapult into fame and popularity, starting with getting H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness to be Lovecraft's biggest deal, and on to getting Ray Bradbury's first novel published at the age of 21. He then goes on to detail how Schwartz spent 45 years of his life essentially making DC comics a successful company through his neverending contributions such as editing, writing, creation, and marketing of DC products. I think that Ellison's essay is wholly effective in that it uses relevant and abundant evidence that connects to my background knowledge about other writers and truly convinces me of this man's massive contributions to the world of writing. All of it is written artfully, as is the norm for Ellison and his work. Overall, an effective tool in both remembering and honoring Julius Schwartz in his death.