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