105k views
1 vote
Dr. Barnes tells his student Charlotte that she should pursue a career that will make her happy. She responds, 'Not all careers that will make me happy will provide me with enough income to live.' Charlotte's response was a(n) _____."

A) synthesis
B) thesis
C) antithesis
D) theory

User Paganotti
by
8.4k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Charlotte's statement is an example of an antithesis, highlighting the opposition between a career that brings happiness and one that provides enough income. This reflects broader societal discussions on the role of education and the pursuit of fulfilling careers versus financially rewarding ones.

Step-by-step explanation:

Charlotte's response to Dr. Barnes, in which she states that not all careers that will make her happy will also provide her with enough income to live, is an example of a antithesis. This term refers to a contrast or opposition between two things. In this case, Charlotte is contrasting the idea of a career that brings happiness with the practical need for sufficient income.

Psychologist David Myers has noted that students often believe that higher income will lead to happiness, but Charlotte's response highlights the contradiction that pursuing happiness through work does not always align with the financial realities of life. This is in line with social theories like the functional perspective on work and the economy and the Davis-Moore thesis, which suggests societal stratification and high rewards for difficult, high-skilled jobs are necessary to encourage the pursuit of these careers.

The ongoing debate about education, careers, and happiness reflects the dialectical process described by Hegel, where a thesis meets an antithesis resulting in a synthesis, mirroring the continuous development and reassessment of personal and societal goals.

User Bethlee
by
8.2k points