Faustian Economics --Wendell Berry
Chunyan Shao (Shandong University)
Introduction: ArgumentationPurpose: to convince, to make the reader
agree with its point of view, support it, and change their way of thinking and behaving.
A debatable topic, a point that can be and actually is viewed from different or opposing angles.
It should be supported by sufficient evidence.The most important element: good logic. All
the evidence should be logically connected with other evidence and with the conclusion.
Organization Part I (1-2): Our response to the end era of cheap
fossil fuel Part II (3-9): The fantasy of limitlessness, its cause,
problems. Part III (10-17): Humans are limited (10-12) Humans live in natural limits. (13-15) We should not desire for limitlessness. (16-17) Limitedness is rooted in our cultural
tradition. Part IV (18-24): Our limits requires us to do and not to
do certain things. Part V (25-32): We can draw lessons from the arts. Part VI (33): Conclusion
P. 1 LPs
Curtail—cut short, abbreviate oblivion--The condition or quality of
being completely forgotten Ethanol--乙醇 , 酒精 Switchgrass--柳枝稷 Dogged--Stubbornly persevering;
obstinate.
P. 1 Questions
What is the general reaction to the end of the era of cheap fossil fuel?
What strategies do people employ? Why is the faith that “science will find an
answer” unscientific? What is the dominant response? What is not destructible? Will people stop doing what they have
been doing? At what cost are they doing this?
P. 3 LPs
Prodigal--Rashly or wastefully extravagant
Extravagant--Given to lavish or imprudent expenditure
The Book of Exodus, the second book of the Hebrew Bible, tells how the children of Israel, led by their prophet Moses, leave slavery in Egypt.
P. 3 Questions
Topic? How do we obscure the problem? Why do we define ourselves as
“higher animals” with relief? Why to define ourselves as animals
is to define ourselves as limitless animals?
Where does the contradiction lie?
P. 4 LPs Unbridled-- Unrestrained; uncontrolled Cutting edge—the most important position Boost---promote vigorously Tissue-- a web; a network Contraption--A mechanical device; a gadget. Rote-- Mechanical routine Industrial fundamentalism—the strong and blind
belief that industrialization will bring progress. Contain-- To hold or keep within limits; restrain Temperance--Moderation and self-restraint, as in
behavior or expression
P. 4 Questions Topic: Our society is built upon delusional assumptions
of limitlessness. What was wrong with the common language? What supports the “Unbridled Energy”? What was the optimism? What attitude does the author demonstrate in asking
the two questions? What does the contrast between “thousands of years”
and “another hundred” show? What does the fire refer to? What does “a hundred more year” refer to? What consequence will an economy of no limits lead
to?
P. 5 LPs & questions
In keeping with---in accordance with Conceive---think
What economy does our unconstrained consumptiveness result in?
What kind of belief does this mode of economy cultivate in people?
P. 6 LPs
Reconcile---To reestablish a close relationship between
Apprehension--Fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; dread
Claustrophobia--An abnormal fear of being in narrow or enclosed spaces
Thence--From that circumstance or source; therefrom
Paradoxical--exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects
P. 6 Questions Where might the limitlessness come from? Do we know how the limitlessness of resources
and their exhaustion are reconciled with each other?
What feeling do people have for the smallness of the world?
What makes us realize the smallness of the world? What leads to claustrophobia? What leads to the desire for freedom? Why does the desire to enlarge the small world
make the world even smaller and finally reduce it to nothing?
P. 7 LPs
Come about---To take place; happen Credo--The Apostles' Creed or the
Nicene Creed Crown--To bring to completion or
successful conclusion; consummate Cult---worship, devotion
P. 7 Questions
What wish does the belief in limitlessness imply?
What is the root of all the problems? What will this eventually result in?
P. 8 LPs & Questions
Encumber---To hinder or impede the action or performance of
Neighborly---Having or exhibiting the qualities of a friendly neighbor
Accountable---Liable to being called to account; answerable
What does normalization refer to? What does moral minimalism mean?
P. 9 LPs
Autistic---孤独病的 ; 自我中心的 Expenditure--An expense Ballot---A sheet of paper or a card
used to cast or register a vote, especially a secret one
Workmanship---The skill of a craftsperson or an artisan
Deplete---To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out.
P. 9 Questions What is autistic industrialism? What makes people of intelligence and
ability embarrassed? Why are they embarrassed? Why does the X marked on paper not fulfill
our idea of voting? What is out idea of voting now? What is the work most needing to be done? Can it be done? What is wrong with our monetary wealth?
P. 10 LPs
Plunder---To rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; pillage
Homeopathy---顺势疗法:一种疾病治疗体系,以小剂量运用一种药物为基础,这种药物的大量服用可在健康人体内产生一种类似于疾病本身的症状 Ill--Something that causes suffering;
trouble
P. 10 Questions
How do we know that we are limited? Time of inescapable limits Not to be granted another world Cannot solve all the problem with
science and technology Cannot cure the ills of economy Under pressure to perceive ourselves
as limited
P. 11 LPs
Cut off---separate from others; isolate
Self-imposed---voluntarily assumed or endured
Watershed--The region draining into a river, river system, or other body of water
Elect---To make a choice or selection
P. 11 Questions
Is this constraint a condemnation? What does this constraint do to us? What cut us off from our human
heritage? How does every cultural and
religious tradition define us? In what circumstances do we live as
animals? Why must we live like that? What differentiate us as human?
P. 12 LPs
What is freedom? How is free connected to friend? What does this suggest about our
identity?
P. 13 LPs Predicament---A situation, especially an
unpleasant, troublesome, or trying one, from which extrication is difficult; a dilemma.
Ransack---To search or examine thoroughly; to search carefully for plunder; pillage
Assuage--To make (something burdensome or painful) less intense or severe; To satisfy or appease (hunger or thirst, for example)
Nominal---Existing in name only. Circumscribe---To limit narrowly; restrict; To
determine the limits of; define
P. 13 Questions What does the predicament send the author
thinking? Who is Faustus? What does he long to do? How does he assuage his thirst? Why was the author astonished? Where is hell? What does the limitless hell have to do with
limitlessness? What is your understanding of hell and
limitlessness?
P. 14 LPs
Tut--- Used to express annoyance, impatience, or mild reproof
Pageant--An elaborate public dramatic presentation that usually depicts a historical or traditional event.
Gluttony---excess in eating or drinking
Disdain---To regard or treat with haughty contempt; despise
P. 15 LPs
Affable--Easy and pleasant to speak to; approachable.
Archangel--A high-ranking angel Surfeit--Overindulgence in food or
drink Circumlocution---The use of
unnecessarily wordy and indirect language.
Fart--A usually audible discharge of intestinal gas
Mortal---Causing death; fatal
P. 16 LPs
Recourse---The act or an instance of turning or applying to a person or thing for aid or security
At a minimum---the least possible
P. 16 Questions
Why does the author bring the language of religion into a scientific discussion?
What are we doing now? What did the scientists, technicians
and politicians try to do? Were they successful? What good would going back to
tradition do?
P. 17 LPs Persist--o hold firmly and steadfastly to a
purpose, a state, or an undertaking despite obstacles, warnings, or setbacks; last
Unalienable--Not to be separated, given away, or taken away; inalienable
Preoccupation--The state of being preoccupied; absorption of the attention or intellect
Assign---To ascribe; attribute Innate---Possessed at birth; inborn
P. 17 Questions
Who defined us? Where do our rights come from? Were it because of the fear of death
that we hold fast to religion?
P. 18 Questions
What does it mean to be human? What does the last sentence mean?
P. 19 LPs
Earnest--Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness
Predatory--Of, relating to, or characterized by plundering, pillaging, or marauding
Beneficent--- Producing benefit; beneficial
P. 19 Questions
What does the word free in “Free Market” mean now?
What a question did the two vets actually ask?
Why can’t a predatory economy have a good result?
P. 20 Questions
What is a community economy? What good would a community
economy do? Which do you think the author
favors, the predatory economy or the community economy? Why?
P. 21 LPs & Questions
Witting---Aware or conscious of something
Vanguard---The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement
What have most scientists and technicians served?
How did the scientists and technicians justify themselves?
What was the consequence of so doing?
P. 22 LPs & Questions
Domesticity---domesticities Household affairs
What do we need now? What would this be? How does this work? What would the limits be?
P. 23 LPs & Questions
Frontier---An international border Leverage---举债经营 What would the idea of limitation
bring to people? Why? Was outward expansion good? Why
or why not? Why does the author mention
Faustus and Satan here?
P. 24 LPs
Salutary---Favorable to health; wholesome
What is a mistake? What was Satan’s fault? What was Faustus’ error? Do people on our age like Faustus
and Satan?
P. 25 LPs & Questions
Inducement---Something that helps bring about an action or a desired result; an incentive:
Solace---Comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or distress; consolation
Properly understood, what can our human and earthly limits be?
What was our serious cultural loss? What could a small place provide?
P. 26 LPs
Omniscient---Having total knowledge; knowing everything
Omnipotent---Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful.
Premise---A proposition upon which an argument is based or from which a conclusion is drawn
P. 26 Questions
What should we do to recover form our disease?
How should we start over? What should we learn? Will it be better if we have a
replacement? What would happen if we have two
lives?
P. 27 Questions
What should we do to deal with the problems?
Why should we turn to art?
P. 28 LPs & Analysis
Unremitting---Never slackening; persistent
Sustain---maintain
Topic sentence? What does the last sentence mean?
P. 29 LPs & Questions Husbandry---The act or practice of cultivating
crops and breeding and raising livestock; agriculture
Forestry---The science and art of cultivating, maintaining, and developing forests
By what does the natural ecosystem survive? What should we do to make our world
productive? How could we do that?
P. 30 Questions &Analysis In what sense are scientists artists? What is special in science? What is the underlying myth in
science? What does the last sentence imply?
P. 31 Questions &Analysis Methodology--- a set of working
methods Genome---[生 ]基因组 ,染色体组 Incidental---Occurring or likely to
occur as an unpredictable or minor accompaniment
How does science contrast with arts?
Ps. 32-33 LPs
Forevermore---forever viable---Capable of success or
continuing effectiveness; practicable Sanity---Soundness of judgment or
reason Conform---To bring into agreement or
correspondence; make similar