1. I feel that as Percy progresses with his thought process in the essay, he is ultimately trying to prove his point that we should try and experience things on our own instead of going by what other’s say. At first, it seems like Percy has a pessimistic view of the world that no one can have their own experiences because of the preformed complexes of the world. I feel that as the reading progresses it Percy continues to illustrate that when people are too worried with matching their experience with the preformed complex, they lose the true meaning of the experience which is to have their genuine experiences. Therefore I feel that Percy was trying to say that we should focus on forming our own experiences instead of trying to say that we can’t have genuine experiences anymore because almost everything has been discovered already.
2. I feel that Percy’s concerns represent the interests of everyone who cares to gain knowledge instead of trying to get things correct in life. For example, I think being a student is perfect for his point. If Percy’s points are followed, it would be in one’s best interest to learn how to do work on their own even if they are wrong instead of having someone else show them what the right way is because when they are shown the preformed complex, students will be too concerned with whether or not they are doing the “right work” instead of learning on their own.
September 11, 2006 at 10:13 pm
What a good comparison with the students in your response to question two. You make such profound conclusions my dear Rachel. I agree though, life in general should be discovered and experienced on your own rather than having other present it to you. We can be influenced by others, but in the end our life should be only our own personal views. You did well: )
September 12, 2006 at 11:49 pm
I agree with your conclusion on what Percy is trying to say. You are only an individual when you learn to think for yourself. When you gain the ability to form a symbolic complex of your own, that’s called having your own opinion, and having an “authentic” experience.
September 13, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Nicely said!
September 13, 2006 at 10:18 pm
I like your answer to the first question. Percy’s point-of-view does seem rather pessimistic at first; but as we as readers continue with the various examples he gives us, we see that he does not want to change our thinking to that of someone who looks upon everything in life with a bad feeling, but rather to educate us on how we act, so we will decide for ourselves what to make of it.
September 13, 2006 at 10:19 pm
I like the idea of learning on your own and even if your wrong its ok b/c you dont have someone there to tell you wuts right. You dont need someone to tell you if you are right or wrong as long as you are trying to learn.