Reading Log 5: First Response to "The Gospel of Wealth" by Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie started off with a modest job. Thanks to a few connections and the right investment decisions, he climbed the ladder of success and ended up becoming one of the richest men in his time. He, along with Herbert Spencer, believed that there were superior people who were the fittest of the economy. I agree with the sentiment; there are definitely people who are higher up when it comes to wealth and finance. As sad as it may be, these individuals have a big say when it comes to controlling the economy. Carnegie was one of those superior people, so he writes from experience.

Carnegie believes that the wealth of the world should be concentrated in the hands of a few people. He thinks that these people know how to use money better. I have to admit that Carnegie does have a point. The rich and educated are known for their smart investments. However, I find it unfair that only the few get a say in how the world's wealth is used. Everyone has a right to use money to satisfy their needs and wants. Everyone has the right to be happy. Unfortunately for us average Joe's, Carnegie's ideal is more-or-less true these days. A large portion of the world's money is in the hands of a lucky few, and they get to use it the way they want.

Carnegie also believed that charity is a sin, because most of the money given to the poor is misused by them. Carnegie would rather help the poor in other ways, instead of just giving them money. I understand Carnegie's point. Indeed, there are many beggars out there who use their obtained money on drugs and other unnecessary goods. There are some who do not use their money efficiently; they buy the more expensive food when they can save money on cheaper food that tastes the same. It would be a lot better if we bought a piece of bread for them instead of just giving them cash to spend on whatever they please. However, there are also the few responsible beggars who spend their money more wisely. I think that these beggars deserve the cash and we should give it to them. So, I believe that Carnegie's principles depend on the type of person involved, and cannot be used in a generalized way.

Reading Log 4: First Response to "The Aim of Man" by Aristotle

"The Aim of Man" borrows most of the issues from the Nichomachean Ethics, a document Aristotle wrote to tutor his son, Nichomachus. In "The Aim of Man," Aristotle defines the word good. He says that it is not something you are; it is something you do. Feeling good comes from the activities you do. I agree with Aristotle; I believe that action is the path to happiness.Getting accepted to Stevens Institute of Technology made me happy; but in order to get accepted, I had to do a lot of different things like get good grades, do good on my SATs, do extracurricular activities, etc.

Aristotle also says that statecraft is the highest good because it consists of all the arts and sciences. It sorts out the types of sciences and arts that are used in different areas. He states that good statecraft ensures the good of the nation, which is why it is the highest good. I agree with him on the point that it assures the good of a country, so it can be named the greatest good. However, from an individual's perspective, I think that statecraft does not provide a single person with the maximum goodness. So, the phrase, "highest good," can be debatable, as statecraft provides the whole population chunks of its goodness.

Aristotle talks about whether or not happiness is dependent on wealth. The wealth of people changes very often. However, true happiness is not something that should change as frequently as money does. So, happiness is not dependent on money.

Aristotle also talks about whether or not to judge a man's happiness only after he dies. After the man dies, his happiness cannot change. During his life, however, his happiness can change at times; hopefully not as many times as changes in wealth. So, a good measure of a man's happiness is when nothing can affect his happiness, which is after death.