J.B.S. Haldane
Summary
J.B.S.
Haldane is a social critic who has presented his idea about socialism. He used
the mode of narrative writing to present his personal opinion with his personal
story of his life and the heroic age.
According
to him, although he was born in peaceful age but during his youth, due to the
outbreak of the first world war, he had to involved himself in a heroic age of
war. Later, he put forward his opinion related to his requirement to make his
living best. According to him, his major requirements are described below.
Work:
It
is Haldane’s first requirement. He wants every healthy people at work in the
entire world with a decent wage. Capitalism provides unemployment in the time
of depression. Here, he represents the time frame of war when there are
economic crises, and it’s the time people need work and money. Similarly, he
wants industries be controlled by workers so that they can see the fruits of
their work not profit for others but in friends wellbeing.
Freedom:
Freedom
is his second requirement. He wants more freedom of speech because the state’s
law stops him from speaking a lot. As a socialist, he has to speak more than
others and he has to speak more than others and he needs to advocate equality
and criticize the drawbacks of the present situation.
Health:
Health
is the third requirement because he believes that a healthy citizen can bring a
remarkable change in society. So, he wants to be healthy enough to be fit for
work and it is possible only with the fulfillment of food, housing, and medical
attendance to everyone.
Friendship:
It’s
the fourth requirement. Being living in a society everyone needs friends and
colleagues in any scientific and political work. He wants society with quality
and could be criticized equally to all. (Below are Minor requirements)
Adventure
and thrill:
It
also belongs to writers’ needs. According to him the adventure of life will be
useless without the risk factors. He means to describe it as he wants to
involve himself in such adventurous work which can bring change in the life of
people.
Desire
and demands:
Here,
according to the writer demand is something that we desire for or it must have.
So, desire is not the requirement but demand is more essential. Although he was
fulfilled with all his desire but still unhappy with lacking essential things.
Peace
and security:
Peace
and security are also part of his requirements; which is not present in this
modern life. World War has destroyed peace, harmony, and security. Everything’s
was destroyed by fascism by Hitler and Mussolini. There is no fraternity,
equality, and development without peace and security. So, by presenting all
these requirements at last he wishes or desires to die as Socrates. Socrates
dies at the age of 70 for his convictions. he willingly drank the cup of poison
and died very happily. He desires the death of Socrates if not at least
fulfilling his two conditions.
Exercise
Understanding
the text
Answer the
following questions.
a.
How does the writer distinguish between a
peaceful age and a heroic age?
Answer: The writer distinguishes between a peaceful age
and a heroic age by making a comparison between them. He recalls his birth time
a peaceful age and the time of 1914, when the First World War took place as
heroic age.
b.
Why does the writer want more freedom of
speech than most people?
Answer: The
writer wants more freedom of speech than most people to express and explain
what he feels about the society. He wants freedom of speech to tell the public
about the issues like medicines, newspapers and drinks do not maintain quality.
c.
According to the writer, what are the
four general human needs?
Answer:
According to the writer the four general human needs are work, freedom of
speech, health and friendship.
d.
What is the difference between desire and
demand according to the writer?
Answer: According to the writer the difference between
desire and demand is that the demand is related with the basic needs of life
like food, clothes and shelter but desire includes things which improve living
standard. The writer talks about car, garden, bathing pool and nearby beach as
desires.
e.
Why does the writer demand security?
Answer: The writer demands security because it is an
important need for a person to live a happy life. He lived in the age of war
and chaos due to which the lives of many peoples were in risk. So, he demands
security.
Reference
to the context
Explain the following lines with reference to the context:
a.
“The satisfaction of adventure is
something much more solid than a thrill.”
Answer: The author believes that adventure is not only
about emotions, but also about satisfaction in performing a creative activity.
It enriches people with solid experience. He compares thrill with amusement he
has got from reading Rimbaud’s poetry. He served on the war front in Madrid for
six months and looked forward to read a book of Rimbaud’s poetry for a thrill.
b.
“I want the workers to see the fruit of
their own work not in profits for others, but in their own and their friends’
well-being.”
Answer: The line shows the writer’s support for
socialism. He asserts the hardworking should be rewarded directly to a
considerable extent. He wants democracy within the working environment. He is a
socialist who wants industry to be controlled by the workers. They should be
free to work and share profit among themselves too. He compares the nature of
industrial work with hunting and gardening like of paleothitic and neolithic.
To create an even and pleasing working atmosphere the profits of work should
remain among working people.
c.
Why do you think the essayist has taken
reference from the ancient philosophers?
Answer: I think the essayist has taken reference from
the ancient philosopher like Aristotle, Lord Blan, Mr. Dash, and Sir John
Asterisk to support his ideas and convince the readers about his idea of decent
work and death.
d.
Discuss the essay in terms of its
language, purpose, subject, point of view and mode of writing.
Answer: The language is simple and lucid in the essay.
Haldane’s style is typically straight forward and vigorous. As a science
popularize, he is accustomed to write about complex maters in a simple language
so that any reader can understand. Here, when writing on a non- technical
subject, he retains this simplicity, with short, forceful, declarative
sentences and clear explanations. His subject at first appears to be personal
and thus made of writing descriptive. However, in the second part of his essay,
it becomes clear that he is putting forward a political argument freedom, for
instance not merely a personal preference of Haldane’s but a universal requirement.
This means that society should be structured in such a way as to maximize
freedom for everyone.
His viewpoint is that of a social critic, setting forth a
general program of the principles that should underlie to a civilized society.
Reference
beyond the text
a.
What do you require from your life to be
happy and satisfied?
Answer: I require good health, a job, friendship,
freedom & security from my life to be happy and satisfied.
b.
What is socialism? How is it different
from capitalism?
Answer: Socialism
is a system of social and economic equality in which private property and
ownership are not prioritized. It differs from capitalism because capitalism
does not provide economic equality. Unlike socialism, capitalism ignores
people’s needs and does not promote equal opportunity.
c.
Write an essay about your dream house.
Answer:
My
Dream House
My dream house is an ideal house that I always imagine. House
becomes home when we pour love to our family members. It is a place where
different generation live together in a single bond. So, my dream house will be
full of love and happiness.
I always dream of a mountainous wooden home. My ideal home
should be facing a river. Through the windows, I could watch the mountains
sunset and vanish. It should be facing East direction because I want to enjoy
cool air as well as rising sun view. My ideal home would include a little
garden with my own veggies and fruits.
I would like to maintain my house neat and clean. There will
be a meditation room for myself to do Yoga and meditation. I will also make one
library room for my family and visitors. I will make a special room for my
parents and visitors. I won’t add too much amenities in my dream house because
it creates laziness. I believe that physical exercises are necessary to be
healthy and fit. There will be solar panel in my house to maintain regular
light. I will also add a big smart TV for my parents and visitors. My house’s
wall will be decorated with beautiful wall paintings capturing nature’s true
beauty. I also have a 1-year-old pet dog named Puppy. I also want a modest but
cozy area in Puppy’s home where he may sleep and rest when he gets old.
My dream home is a place of joy, peace and beauty. Right now, it exists only in my dreams. But someday, it will become a reality.