My First Seminar Paper

Below is the work I produced for my first seminar paper, some of it is written in note form but that was mainly to prompt me with further ideas. I felt like I enjoyed reading Addison, and I can't speak for anyone else but I also felt it offered a nice change - the reading was written in fairly modern language meaning it could be understood in less time. Enjoy - 

Joseph Addison – The Spectator

In the opening lines of The Spectator, Addison states that among his writings he adopts two styles. Some are of ‘Regularity and Method’; this I infer as being empirical/ factual or in other words something that another individual could understand and comprehend with ease whilst the other style is ‘Essay’ based and has a much more Idealist approach. He explains that in the first style, this format has structure and more often than not Addison knows exactly what his thought process is before he writes this down. On contrary to the latter, ‘Essay’ format is more fluid and has less structure; it can often lead to opinions and gaining answers through a figuration process. (Something that another individual may disagree with or struggle to understand.)

He offers examples of philosophers who follow both styles of writing: Seneca and Montagine follow ‘Essay’ whilst Aristotle and Tully support Method.

Appears to be in favour of ‘Method’. ‘Method is of advantage to a work, both to the writer and the reader.’ He explains that if a piece of writing/work is carefully planned and thought out, it will raise questions (notably more intelligible questions!) that may not be necessarily linked to the subject but offer interpretation and meaning, perhaps gaining a better insight than writing which lacks order and connection. This makes sense, for example if you were to prepare some work on an area that you were unfamiliar with and did not produce any research, somebody who had done research; they would hold a more accurate and detailed account.

He explains that the reader gains advantages from reading methodical data – it is easy for him to read and he will retain it for a long time.

“He comprehends everything easily, takes it in with pleasure and retains it long.”

He further explains that ‘Method’ is not necessarily needed in everyday conversation so long as other individuals can interpret the meaning you are trying to create. He states that there is ‘ not one Dispute in ten that is managed in those Schools of Politics, where, after the first three sentences, the question is not lost.”

He explains that a man who cannot methodise his thoughts is basically invisible and his thoughts and ideas become lost.

Refers to Tom Puzzle, he claims Puzzle is one of the most immethodical philosophers he has come across. Addison explains that his ‘sufficient’ knowledge but is pitied by the idea that he has not been involved in more education. “It is a pity he has had so much Learning, or that he has not had a great deal more.”  I interpret as though Addison is suggesting that had he had more education or gained further qualifications, Puzzle may be more coherent. Addison claims that Puzzle is an Atheist and judging my Addisons remarks, this is something that I feel he disapproves of. ‘…finds a great many things to blame in the Constitution of his Country, and gives shrewd imitations that he does not believe in another world.”

It seems that Tom Puzzle is a man admired by those who are beneath him in status; however, he is not favoured by those gifted with more intelligence. Mentions Will Dry towards the conclusion; this is a man that is very logically minded and tries to ‘help’ Puzzle be more logical with his work/writings.

The Royal Exchange –

First paragraph or so suggests his love and admiration for The Royal Exchange. Explains the basic point behind trading with foreign countries and in one sentence compares them to that of the politic world: ‘Factors in the trading world are what ambassadors are in the politic world; they negotiate affairs and conclude affairs etc’. Suggests how he likes the trading business and in a rather humorous way explains how it almost seems like he can switch nationalities due to the sheer number of ministers from different walks of life that he engages with. Claims that a happy and wealthy country makes him happy – so much so that his level of joy causes him to shed tears. This, to Addison, provides evidence why he favours the Royal Exchange (it means that the country is provided with items necessary i.e through foreign trading and in turn creating wealth.)

Addison goes on to suggest that as a nation we rely on foreign trading and often sources from different regions/countries compliment each other whilst creating what it is we need. He provides example of this ‘The food is often grown in one country and the sauce in another. The fruits of Portugal are corrected by the produce of Barbados.’  

I found the range of exaggerated examples amusing –

‘The single dress of a woman of quality is a product of a hundred climates’

‘ The petticoat rises out of the mines of Peru, whilst the diamond necklace comes out of the bowels of Indostan.’

Claims that if our country did not have foreign exchange, it would be an unhappy, somewhat miserable place and would not be as wealthy. A lot of what we consider to be ‘ours’ has actually been imported from other countries in the past and has ‘been polished in our English Gardens’.

‘Nature furnishes us with the bare necessities of life but traffic gives us a great variety and at the same time supplies us with everything that is convenient and ornamental.’ From what I can infer from this quote, Addison is suggesting that although our country supplies with good produce, items that we need, we gain BETTER sources and supplies from other countries and by using trafficking we can gain produce and materials that compliment each other meaning that we are as successfully and prosperous as we can be.

Again, Addison provides a humorous statement by saying that another advantage of trafficking is that we can gain the fruits and produce from other countries but we do not have to endure the weather/climate in order to grow such items. Bizarre?

Trafficking as a whole ‘knits’ mankind together, it also allows us to form (what Addison describes as) an ‘empire’. Not only can we gain foreign produce but we can meet other people and their land meaning that the value of our country is ultimately increased.