Um, I didn't actually get to Adam Smith. In fact, out of the 900 pages of my "Making of Society" book, I read 194 pages. After almost 200 pages, I feel like I didn't actually learn anything--I feel like I "unlearned," which probably isn't even a word, but is the most accurate way to explain. I don't know exactly what I believed about the nature of man and/or society, but whatever I did believe, it's all been challenged. I think the questions I'm left with are:
* Are people as a whole capable of goodness?
* When we put people in jail, what are we trying to accomplish?
* Can mankind ever reach a state where we are content and not looking for a group to hate?
* Can any amount of education prevent mob mentality?
* If so many people believe that our government is corrupt and that no politician will fulfill their campaign promises, why haven't we done anything about it--like voting them out?
* Are people as a whole better or worse than they were 1000 years ago? 500?
Since the book is just getting into economics and more modern thought, I am going to continue to read it, but I think I'll drop down to one essay a week. I still want to get back to the other book of essays, The Sex Problem in Modern Society. There's an essay in there entitled, "Birth Control or War." Personally, I can't really see the relationship, but the point of this whole experiment is to learn. I'll keep you posted on that one!
Now I'm going to read something light & simple and not challenging at all--I feel like my brain needs a bit of a vacation. Ha! Maybe that means I should watch TV.....:)
1 comment:
Birth control and war are two ways to reduce the population.
I'm enjoying your reading endeavors, especially since they are so divergent from mine.
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