Critical Thinking #2

Prepared for - Gregory Spendlove

Prepared by - Ainhi Nguyen
Date: July 28, 2016
Humanities (HUMA-1100-010-Su16)

Authors Full Name: Henry David Thoreau

Title: Higher Laws
Before reading this article, I thought higher laws is something beyond
constitutions and laws. Its about a moral or a religious principle that is believed
to be more accurate than our regular laws. Another meaning came to my mind is
heaven, something above us and unknown or unpredictable.
After reading this article, I think the meaning of the title about becomes the
one with nature, part noble and spiritual and define our value as a human.
According to Dictionary.com, a higher law is an ethical or religious
principle considered as taking precedence over the laws of society, and to which
one may appeal in order to justify disobedience to a constitution or enacted laws
with which it conflicts.
Description:
Henry David Thoreau gave us a first-hand account of his withdrawal from
civilization and his life in the woods in his book Walden, Higher Laws. On the way
home, Thoreau passes a woodchuck and is seized with a primitive desire to
devour it. He notices his own dual nature, part noble and part spiritual, part dark
and savage, and declares that he values both sides of himself. In the beginning,
Thoreau believes in the importance of hunt at an early stage in a persons
education and future, noting that intellectual and spiritual individuals then move
on to higher callings, leaving the gun and fish-pole behind (p. 558).
Despite the fact that Thoreau is a skilled fisherman, he confesses that he
cannot fish without falling a little in self-respect, tolerated the sense that the fish
is neither fully nourishing nor fully clean. His impulse toward vegetarianism,
however, is based on his instincts and his principles rather than on any actual
experiences of poor health. He admits that he himself finds grains and
vegetables both more filling and less difficult to prepare. Thoreau says that one
should delight in ones appetite, rather than accept it honestly. Yet, while there is
much to be gained from savoring a meal, taste should not be taken to the point of
indulgence. Thus there is water to quench thirst, rather than wine. This simplicity
of taste marks his other pleasures as well: Thoreau prefers a breath of fresh air
to the strains of a musical composition.
Thoreau desire to distinguish his higher nature from his more animalistic
tendencies. It is never a fully successful effort, yet even in failure, he says it is a

pursuit that yields considerable rewards. As the animal nature fades, one
approaches divinity. Thoreau says we have a choice: we may strive to be either
chaste or sensual, either pure or impure (p. 561). In the end, Thoreau says, it is
up to each individual to care for his or her body and his or her soul, saying that
Every man is the builder of a temple (562). In conclusion, Thoreau gives an
example of John Farmer, an allegorical representation of the common man who
hears the music of higher spheres, questions his life of hopeless toil, and decides
to live his life with a new austerity. Farmer redeems himself by letting his mind
descend into his body and becomes able to treat himself with ever increasing
respect.
Argument/Point about Nature:
Henry David Thoreau gave us a first-hand account of his withdrawal from
civilization and his life in the woods in his book Walden, Higher Laws. The
purpose of Thoreaus stay in the woods is not merely to experience a pastoral
way of life, relying only on himself and on nature, but essentially he is seeking to
live a transparent life and to refrain as much as possible from the burdens and
impracticalities that the sees in modern society. He explains his intentions and
expectations as to how they relate to his philosophical beliefs and account of
human experience (true humanity).
The main point throughout Higher Laws breaks down to simplicity,
Thoreau mentions hunting, vegetarianism, and even creation. All of the which
most simplistic of human race. Thoreau simplifies his life by living marginally in a
small cabin in the woods around Walden Pond, which is known for its purity and
unrefined composition. Before Thoreau can move on with his life and live
accordingly to his ideals and beliefs, he first must start anew; therefore, he
relocates his residence and actually builds his own house, which may symbolize
that fact that he is starting a new life which is a polar opposite to what modern
civilization embodies. It is evident that one of Thoreaus primary goals, if not the
only goal, is to reflect upon himself the meaning of life through communing with
nature.
Three Ways Thoreau Supports His Conclusion:
1. One of the ways Thoreau supports his conclusion is embraced his own
philosophy beliefs that what is essential to ones humanity is the ability to forgo
certain pleasures which may be deemed unnecessary for human existence.
Thoreau explains that humans must strive to set themselves apart from animals,
therefore implying the importance of cultivating the mind rather than only fulfilling
physical needs and desires. He launches an interesting discussion of food and
eating habits, which branches from his abstinence from eating meat and other
animal foods, as well as his belief that it is characteristic of a civilized man to eat

healthily and simply. He compares the civilized man and the civilized man to a
caterpillar and a butterfly, or to a maggot and a fly, and explains that the
uncivilized man eats voraciously as do caterpillars and maggots. However, like a
butterfly or even a fly, the civilized man is wise to eat only when he needs to and
eats only as much food that can sufficiently sustain his body.
2. Another evidence is when Thoreau tried to be devoted to higher laws and
the superiority of human life pervades through this chapter when he says , I
believe that every man who has ever been earnest to preserve his higher or
poetic faculties in the best condition has been particularly inclined to abstain from
animal food, and from much food of any kind (p. 559). To elaborate his thoughts
on this, he talks about an inner animal and a superior being, both of which exist
in the human psyche. He says, It is a part of the destiny of the human race to
leave off eating animals (p. 559). Thoreau believes that human existence is a
constant struggle between good and bad, which are represented by a ferocious
and feral animal that seeks to satisfy our flesh and a higher nature that discerns
what is best for us and guides us to self-control and purity.
3. At last, Thoreau was closing his argument by saying, Every man is the
builder of a temple (p. 562). The proof of that care will be evident in the face and
on the features, he says, which will acquire the visage of nobility when one
engages in right thought and action and the visage of degradation when one
engages in wrong thought and action. Thoreau even invokes the figure of John
Farmer, an allegorical representation of the common man who hears the music of
higher spheres, questions his life of hopeless toil, and decides to live his life with
a new austerity. Farmer redeems himself by letting his mind descend into his
body and becomes able to treat himself with ever increasing respect.
Historical Period and Location:
Most of the material in Higher Laws was added after Thoreau left Walden.
In general, these sections were not begun in earnest until 1851, and Thoreau did
not impose chapter divisions until 1853, more than five years after he abandoned
his cabin in the woods. As a result, much of the writing that appears in the latter
portion of Walden does not feel as closely related to his self-reliance project as
the earlier chapters do, though they still remain connected by themes and ideas.
From the start of 1850 to the time of Thoreaus death, there were a lot of
slavery controversies. For example, Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's
Cabin is published. It becomes one of the most influential works to stir antislavery sentiments. Not mentioning the Civil War, the conflict between the North
and the South from 1861 to 1865. Events like this may affect Thoreaus ways of
thinking, leaving him feeling negative and lost hope in economic performance. He
has the advantage of being educated and be able to speak up than most of the
people during that time.

My View of Nature:
Nature is a great thing and is lovely to enjoy. I believe it should be treated
with respect because it's where we all live, and we should all help to keep it clean
and beautiful. That was what I was thinking in my mind before reading Higher
Laws. Thoreau makes me feel there are so much more to it, I dont even want to
go that far. He got me thinking, How much is enough? Not all humans are
greedy or grasping or thieving, but all of us may have to adapt to an environment
that will require one or all of those traits.
Thoreaus view of nature compares to my view of nature is just too far
away. Im still dreaming about the color green, sunshine, and birds singing. On
the other hand, his views are desires, the needs of human existence, food and
sex are the two basic human needs that Thoreau discusses in Higher Laws. I
dont think this piece will affect my view of nature but it will definitely open my
mind up to more things that I originally thought of.
It is a part of the destiny of human race to leave off eating animals (p. 559-560).
This is my favorite quote in the reading, I like it because I believe that
human can survive happily without consuming any animal product. Personally,
Im in the process of switching my diet to vegetarian. However, due to my
teenage craving and lack of determination, I keep on cheating and break my
rules. But Im proud to look back on all the food that Ive quit to make the earth a
better place. One of my goals in life is to become a vegan and I know that I can
do it one day.
I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man (p. 560).
After this quote, he went on saying how coffee is the slight cause
destroyed Greece and Rome, and will destroy England and America. First, I
thought it was somewhat silly but Thoreaus aversion to coffee seems more
economically principled than a matter of taste. I dont drink coffee because it
makes your teeth yellow and I just simply love water. I dont like this quote
because it can offend many people and I think there are better ways for him to
say water is good instead of went on saying water is the only drink for a wise
man.