Comments on: The Metaphysical Club, 2 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/ Unsolicited Historical Commentary Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:22:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Erica Spurgeon http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4250 Erica Spurgeon Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:38:50 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4250 I would have to disagree with the notion that Holmes change was because of his age and I don't necessary think it was because he was physically effected by the war. I believe that Holmes was emotionally ill from the war and didn't know how to deal with his emotions. He realized that people had died in his place--and he felt like he had owed them something for that. When your higher up in our society, its very hard to see whats going on below you. It's hard to see how the real world is and it's hard to see how the power your class holds can destroy groups of people. When Holmes entered the war, I believe that he may have felt some equality with a class of people he normally would not have associated with. He began to understand what his class of people was doing and how they were in fact the reason we were in war. I think he understood that power was a horrible thing for someone to have to much of. I think that Holmes had to give up his ego because he that this could be deadly and he had to live with the notion that there was life outside the bubble he had been raised in. I would have to disagree with the notion that Holmes change was because of his age and I don’t necessary think it was because he was physically effected by the war. I believe that Holmes was emotionally ill from the war and didn’t know how to deal with his emotions. He realized that people had died in his place–and he felt like he had owed them something for that.

When your higher up in our society, its very hard to see whats going on below you. It’s hard to see how the real world is and it’s hard to see how the power your class holds can destroy groups of people. When Holmes entered the war, I believe that he may have felt some equality with a class of people he normally would not have associated with. He began to understand what his class of people was doing and how they were in fact the reason we were in war. I think he understood that power was a horrible thing for someone to have to much of.

I think that Holmes had to give up his ego because he that this could be deadly and he had to live with the notion that there was life outside the bubble he had been raised in.

]]> By: Thomas Matuszak http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4249 Thomas Matuszak Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:41:05 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4249 I like what Brian said in the begining of his comment. I do believe Holmes did start from anew after the war. He almost had a rebirth of life or an awakening to the way in which he thought. I like what Brian said in the begining of his comment. I do believe Holmes did start from anew after the war. He almost had a rebirth of life or an awakening to the way in which he thought.

]]> By: Matt Streckenbach http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4248 Matt Streckenbach Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:25:14 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4248 I would like too add that in time's of great dispare we do loose the faith in much of what we think we know about the world around us. An hold on closer too which we are more secure in or give us the chance of hope. I think that this further discribes what this story is telling. I would like too add that in time’s of great dispare we do loose the faith in much of what we think we know about the world around us. An hold on closer too which we are more secure in or give us the chance of hope. I think that this further discribes what this story is telling.

]]> By: Stephanie Bellile http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4247 Stephanie Bellile Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:16:25 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4247 I agree that the war changed Holmes. During the war we can't be sure what he was thinking at all times, because many of his diary entries were destroyed. Perhaps he wanted nobody to know. I think he was torn and going back and forth on his thinking. I think he started to loose a lot of faith in the union, because there were so many casualties. Also, leadership positions were based on political influence, rather than experience. Many people felt friends and family were dying because of "mismanagement and political meddling." I agree that the war changed Holmes. During the war we can’t be sure what he was thinking at all times, because many of his diary entries were destroyed. Perhaps he wanted nobody to know. I think he was torn and going back and forth on his thinking. I think he started to loose a lot of faith in the union, because there were so many casualties. Also, leadership positions were based on political influence, rather than experience. Many people felt friends and family were dying because of “mismanagement and political meddling.”

]]> By: Josh Kasper http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4246 Josh Kasper Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:00:50 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4246 During the war, Holmes believed in expertise because it was the key for soldiers to fight more efficient. After the war was over Holmes’s ideas and writings shifted to a rejection of expertise and professionalism. Holmes was shell-shocked by the war and didn’t want that to happen again. He believed that democracy would help fight against violence, but it just needed time to work. It is interesting to see how Holmes broadened himself in order to except more ideas. During the war, Holmes believed in expertise because it was the key for soldiers to fight more efficient. After the war was over Holmes’s ideas and writings shifted to a rejection of expertise and professionalism. Holmes was shell-shocked by the war and didn’t want that to happen again. He believed that democracy would help fight against violence, but it just needed time to work. It is interesting to see how Holmes broadened himself in order to except more ideas.

]]> By: Brian Knaak http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4245 Brian Knaak Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:50:06 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4245 Abandoning the intellectual ideals of pre-war Boston, Holmes begins his intellectual journey from an entirely new basis. This is a philosophical journey which no longer stressed the importance of individuality. As Menard notes, "But he had not given up the idea of doing philosophy. He had only given up the idea of doing it in a way Emerson and his father had done it-by syntensis and introspection. He thought it could be done better by scholarship and analysis."(57) Here Holmes is expressing the need for people to act in an objective, reasonable, and disinterested manner. As Menard goes on to point out, "The idea of disintersted inquiry is the best way to crack the world's nut was Holmes's message to his generation."(59) Holmes is rejecting individualism and is concentrating objectively on the larger picture. As Menard again notes "He reversed in effect, the priorities of his youth: He took the Constitution for his text and rejected the Declaration of Independence."(66) In conclusion we see Holmes moving away from the individualistic thoughts of his youth, to a more broad, objectifiable perspective. This is, in effect, the beginning of Holmes pragmatic nature of thought. It would also serve as the basis behing many of his court decisions. Abandoning the intellectual ideals of pre-war Boston, Holmes begins his intellectual journey from an entirely new basis. This is a philosophical journey which no longer stressed the importance of individuality. As Menard notes, “But he had not given up the idea of doing philosophy. He had only given up the idea of doing it in a way Emerson and his father had done it-by syntensis and introspection. He thought it could be done better by scholarship and analysis.”(57) Here Holmes is expressing the need for people to act in an objective, reasonable, and disinterested manner. As Menard goes on to point out, “The idea of disintersted inquiry is the best way to crack the world’s nut was Holmes’s message to his generation.”(59) Holmes is rejecting individualism and is concentrating objectively on the larger picture. As Menard again notes “He reversed in effect, the priorities of his youth: He took the Constitution for his text and rejected the Declaration of Independence.”(66)
In conclusion we see Holmes moving away from the individualistic thoughts of his youth, to a more broad, objectifiable perspective. This is, in effect, the beginning of Holmes pragmatic nature of thought. It would also serve as the basis behing many of his court decisions.

]]> By: William Schwartz http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4244 William Schwartz Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:49:50 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4244 Someone once said that “War was Hell”. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest wars in American history. Holmes himself says something like “I am not the man I once was”, and “he was not even sure if he will make it out a live”. Any young person that goes to war is thinking he is doing this for something great. They do not think of the horrors they will encounter, and how this will change their lives. People are full of wonderful ideas, and thoughts, until their friends, and comrade’s gets killed off, or you go to a battler field in which the dead are mixed in with the living and nobody is helping. I believe this type of stress will change anyone’s views on life. Perhaps he had something like PDS? Someone once said that “War was Hell”. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest wars in American history. Holmes himself says something like “I am not the man I once was”, and “he was not even sure if he will make it out a live”. Any young person that goes to war is thinking he is doing this for something great. They do not think of the horrors they will encounter, and how this will change their lives. People are full of wonderful ideas, and thoughts, until their friends, and comrade’s gets killed off, or you go to a battler field in which the dead are mixed in with the living and nobody is helping. I believe this type of stress will change anyone’s views on life. Perhaps he had something like PDS?

]]> By: Thomas Matuszak http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4243 Thomas Matuszak Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:48:40 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4243 I would have to agree with Jordan in that Holmes was a young man ready for anything. Then he entered the Civil War and was awakened by the existents of the real word out side of the idealistic city of Boston. After the war Holmes is a changed man, and even during the war he writes his mother, telling her he does not want to hear his father go on about different movements, when he is facing the ugly truth everyday on the front lines of the war. I would have to agree with Jordan in that Holmes was a young man ready for anything. Then he entered the Civil War and was awakened by the existents of the real word out side of the idealistic city of Boston. After the war Holmes is a changed man, and even during the war he writes his mother, telling her he does not want to hear his father go on about different movements, when he is facing the ugly truth everyday on the front lines of the war.

]]> By: Brooke Schramm http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4242 Brooke Schramm Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:26:19 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4242 I agree with Jordan that age was a factor in how Holmes' ideals changed during his service in the army. I also thought it interesting how deeply he worshiped Emerson, event to the point of writing him to look over things he himself had written. I agree with Jordan that age was a factor in how Holmes’ ideals changed during his service in the army. I also thought it interesting how deeply he worshiped Emerson, event to the point of writing him to look over things he himself had written.

]]> By: Chris Gould http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4241 Chris Gould Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:24:02 +0000 http://expostfacto.historytools.org/the-metaphysical-club-2/#comment-4241 I think Holmes' ideas and writings were strongly influenced by the war and how the the he lived in changed during the war. I would agree with Jordan when he talks about how Holmes seems to go from a young ambituous boy before the war to a old bitter and somewhat defeated man after the war until his death. I would think that this was the norm for anybody who participated in this horrific war. Everyone's thoughts and beliefs almost had to change when they saw what human beings were capable of when fighting for what they believed in. I think Holmes’ ideas and writings were strongly influenced by the war and how the the he lived in changed during the war. I would agree with Jordan when he talks about how Holmes seems to go from a young ambituous boy before the war to a old bitter and somewhat defeated man after the war until his death. I would think that this was the norm for anybody who participated in this horrific war. Everyone’s thoughts and beliefs almost had to change when they saw what human beings were capable of when fighting for what they believed in.

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