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Reflection Paper 1

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Philosophy
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Tarrant County College District
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Homework
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Reflection
The article, how and how not to love mankind, by Theodore Dalrymple presents
philosophical explanations of how to love mankind and how not to love them. Dalrymple gave
comparisons from the works of two great and influential writers of the 19th century. The article
combines the writings of Karl Marx and Ivan Turgenev who were born in 1818, and both died in
1883. Their lives were parallel in many natural aspects. However, in their works, they viewed
humankind differently. Turgenev viewed people as individuals who had moral strengths and
weaknesses, consciousness, feelings, and character. On the other hand, Marx viewed people as a
collective group that was influenced by the surrounding circumstances. Therefore, the two great
writers had a different view of humanity and how mankind lives and treats others in different
situations. In short, they explored how humans show love to others in some situations and how
they fail to show love to others in other situations.
The main argument in Dalrymple's article is how humanity's aspect is viewed differently
in society. It is common for people to say that they have others' welfare at heart, especially the
poor. Surprisingly, even those who commit murders also claim that they cherish other people and
have their interests at heart. However, Dalrymple uses the philosophical works of Marx and
Turgenev to support his arguments. Turgenev claimed that humans are individuals with moral

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obligations and consciousness of what they are doing. On the other hand, Marx claimed that
humans are cruel, communists, and subjugate. He went on to say that humans are bourgeois
beings who are possessed with money and power. Although the two men were raised in wealthy
families where they lacked nothing, their sympathy for the oppressed and the poor is different.
The two men shared the same experiences when growing up, including education. However,
their philosophical ideologies towards humanity were different.
The author supports his main argument using the philosophical work of other authors. He
bases his argument on Marx's work, Manifesto, and Turgenev's Mumu. The illusions and
philosophy assertions in Manifesto show a society full of murderers, contemptuous, and hateful
people. He claims that humans resort to violent incitements to achieve their desires. Marx draws
his arguments from the analogy of proletariats and communists whose desire is to see people
being vulnerable because they are poor. The wealth disparity factor explains the whole point of
love for humanity. The wealthy people are independent, while the poor are seen as vulnerable for
manipulation by the poor. Therefore, Marx is portrayed as a person who is human-friendly, but
his beliefs and philosophies contradict his love for humankind. Marx's life did not reflect a
human who loves others. His relationship with his family was not good at all (Dalrymple 166).
His constant interference with his daughters' lives made them commit suicide. Additionally, he
forced his wife to engage in commercial works to get money because he believed money brings
happiness to humans. Therefore, Marx is an example of a human being who does not know how
to love others and did not have other people's interests at heart.
In Turgenev's work, Mumu, the author narrates a dog, Mumu, and the owner, Gerasim, a
deaf and dumb serf to an old tyrannical feudal landowner (Dalrymple 163). Gerasim treasured
the dog, but his feudal master ordered the dog to be killed for disturbing her. The author uses this

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Surname 1 Students Name Professor Course Date Reflection The article, how – and how not – to love mankind, by Theodore Dalrymple presents philosophical explanations of how to love mankind and how not to love them. Dalrymple gave comparisons from the works of two great and influential writers of the 19th century. The article combines the writings of Karl Marx and Ivan Turgenev who were born in 1818, and both died in 1883. Their lives were parallel in many natural aspects. However, in their works, they viewed humankind differently. Turgenev viewed people as individuals who had moral strengths and weaknesses, consciousness, feelings, and character. On the other hand, Marx viewed people as a collective group that was influenced by the surrounding circumstances. Therefore, the two great writers had a different view of humanity and how mankind lives and treats others in different situations. In short, they explored how humans show love to others in some situations and how they fail to show love to others in other situations. The main argument in Dalrymple's article is how humanity's aspect is viewed differently in society. It is common for people to say that they have others' welfare at heart, especially the poor. Surprisingly, even those who commit murders also claim that they cherish other people and have their interests at heart. However, Dalrymple uses the philosophical works of Marx and Turgenev to support his arguments. Turgenev claimed that humans are individuals with mo ...
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