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Which best expresses Emerson's feelings about "good and bad" as expressed in this quote from Section 6 of "Self Reliance"?

"Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this."

A. "Good and bad" must be defined by the church so we reliably know what to avoid and what to embrace.
B. "Good and bad" must be defined by the government so you know for sure what is expected of you.
C. "Good and bad" are just names or terms that can be applied back and forth to anything.

User Illusionx
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Final answer:

Emerson's quote from "Self Reliance" implies that the concepts of good and bad are subjectively transferable and are not absolute. The best expression of Emerson's feelings is option C, indicating that 'good and bad' are flexible terms that can be applied to anything depending on context and individual perspective. Therefore, the selection most closely expressing Emerson's feelings about good and bad from the options provided would be "C. 'Good and bad' are just names or terms that can be applied back and forth to anything."

Step-by-step explanation:

The quote from Emerson's "Self Reliance" - "Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this" - suggests that the concepts of good and bad are fluid and subjective rather than fixed and objective standards.

Emerson's perspective indicates a relativistic view, where moral labels can easily switch places depending on the situation or the viewpoint of the individual defining them. This idea runs contrary to the absolute moral codes that might be dictated by institutions, such as churches or governments, which often define good and bad in more rigid terms.

This notion aligns with Emerson's overall philosophy of individualism and self-reliance, advocating that individuals trust their own judgment and experience to determine what is good and bad, instead of relying on external authoritative definitions.

This approach is similar to the concept of scientific modeling, where abstract constructs are used adaptively to understand the world, recognizing that their meanings may evolve over time and in different contexts.

Therefore, the selection most closely expressing Emerson's feelings about good and bad from the options provided would be "C. 'Good and bad' are just names or terms that can be applied back and forth to anything." This captures the essence of the fluidity and relativity of moral judgments as Emerson sees them.

User Konrad Dzwinel
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