Tess Reeves Humanities 1A Mr.

Negley 1/7/14 Final Writing Project Thoreaus theory of fishing through the metaphorical water to solid ground of raw truth is the heart of this unit because it demonstrates getting through the artificial parts of the world and focus on what truly matters. In Walden, Thoreau states Let us settle ourselves, and work and wedge our feet downward through the mud and slush of opinion, and prejudice, and tradition, and delusion, and appearance, that alluvion which covers the globe through poetry and philosophy and religion until we come to a hard bottom and rocks in place, which we can call reality. (78) This quote is stating in order to reach solid ground, which we can call reality, we must first work our way through the bull crap of the world to get to reality. In order to get to that solid ground, we must go through all the trials and whatnot that comes with life. Not only that, but we must overcome the worlds opinion of things to find the truth in the matter. Fighting through the worlds opinion is one of the hardest things to do, but it is possible. Dont just be bombarded by outside opinions. Retort with what facts you have discovered for yourself. This idea presents itself in the real world through stories and tales told by others. This idea also appears in persuasive debates. Someone may have discovered a reality from their own experience. However, another person may have experienced the same experience but found a different reality and took something else away from the experience. These experiences may be exchanged and compared, thus persuading others. Likewise, in attempts at being persuaded, you can take your own experiences into account and make up your mind.

This idea shows up in my life every day. Being raised Mormon and having strict LDS family members, Im constantly told about what is right and wrong. Gay marriage is frowned upon by my grandma, but my grandpa on the other side of the family discovered he was gay and got married to a fantastic man. Trying to fish through the opinions of the religion I was raised on is a hard thing, but it is possible. I fully support equality, because love is love and we all are human beings sharing this earth. It took a lot of trudging to get to that conclusion, but well worth the struggle. In conclusion, this theory of the filter of society muddying our view of the truth is an important one to our society. It is the heart of our unit, allowing us to open our hearts and minds, It displays itself in the real world by stating common sense. And lastly, it displays itself in my own life by my confliction of my upbringing and wanting peace, by getting down to basic reality.