Separated From His Natural Condition By Instruments of His Own Making
In this section of Burke's definition he describes man's natural state as being that of basic needs and appetites. However, because of his tools and language, he has taken on a nature completely different than that of his original state. He cites an example of a day when the electricity of New York City went out and how unnatural it seemed for the streets to be filled with darkness; darkness being a state of man's first nature. However, because of man's tools, a state of lighted streets has become natural. One major example of man's instruments is exemplified in technology. Technology has accomplished the task of separating man from nature.
Read more about this topic: Definition Of Man
Famous quotes containing the words separated from, separated, natural, condition, instruments and/or making:
“But, depend upon it, you will love your native hills the better for being separated from them.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Though we be separated by the whole wide world,
You are ever present in my mind.”
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—Eugène Ionesco (b. 1912)
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“Before the beginning of years
There came to the making of man
Time, with a gift of tears;
Grief, with a glass that ran;”
—A.C. (Algernon Charles)