This statement from C.S. Lewis, “One must look both along and at everything", is a very profound statement and is something I believe to be true. The entire essay is an argument in order to try to prove this to the reader through many examples. C.S. Lewis is trying to say that people frequently do not go by this principle and simply extrapolate meaning from both viewpoints from the inside and the outside. Without a complete understanding from both the along and at views there cannot be a complete picture of a situation. For example most people believe that being rich will solve all of there problems and from the outside it seems that this could bring happiness. From the inside this is a not always the case and there are many examples of the problems that the extremely wealthy experience. For example, there is a Tiger Woods; the first athlete to ever make one billion dollars has many disturbing problems. Even with a wonderful family and without the worry of financial issues, he still cannot obtain happiness. This concept is something that many people do not understand because there viewpoint is at and not along the situation. It would seem that being rich would alleviate the many problems of life but there is more to life than people can simply observe, and this is an important reason why experience and observation are both needed to avoid mistakes and falsehoods that people may otherwise believe.
I like your observation about wealthy people who don't seem to be satisfied with their wealth and everything else they have. Such was the case with Woods who had everything most people can only dream of having (including a wife most would consider attractive). It is true what they say about wealth not bringing you happiness.
ReplyDeleteI also like your connection of perspective and wealth; looking at it is (almost) always appealing, but looking along it is not. Taking both perspectives really puts wealth in its place; it's not the ideal it appears to be.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what Nathan says here. If you take an external, or at view of wealth, then there would seem to be no shortcomings. Especially as a college student, it seems like a fairy tale to not have to worry about money. However, there are shortcomings, which we can not see until we acquire wealth. Then we can judge better with an along perspective.
ReplyDeleteI like how you were able to use a current example of the Tiger Woods scandle and integrate it into this reflection. I agree with Nate here when he says that we need both views to completely understand a situation. Only the wealthy truly understand what it means to be wealthy because they have both the along and at perspectives.
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