{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"“Logic of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Tom Jones"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"” by Henry Fielding"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"As I imagine writing from Fielding’s point of view, my Logic for writing this novel was:"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Purpose:"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"         "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"My purpose was to show the petty nature of human thinking, but to balance that with a representation of intellectual perseverance and the development of the intellectual virtues. In other words, rather than focusing solely on the problematic aspects of human nature, I offered a series of examples to demonstrate the growth of someone’s character as they acknowledge their egocentric and sociocentric tendencies. For example, both Tom Jones and Mr. Allworthy make many mistakes, but ultimately both demonstrate Intellectual Humility when they admit that they were wrong and commit to changing themselves and how they treat others."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Problem:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"The main problem I examined was the ways that human nature deceives itself and how challenging it can be to change our thoughts and habits. Other problems I addressed were the problem of dominating parents, what happens when people lie about you, how the desire to be unique and to have money can corrupt people; fractured relationships; the consequences of poor decisions; etc. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Information:"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"  "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"The information I used was simply a compilation of human experiences. In other words, rather than making up examples of egocentricism and sociocentrism, I surveyed how I’ve seen people act. Whether using the pub landlords, landladies, the selfish pull of parents, the kowtowing of lower classes to their superiors, or the desire for secrecy and affect of shame, I merely had to pull these in various ways into my story to make it plausible and to demonstrate the complexity (and superficiality) of human nature."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Concepts: "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"The important concepts I used were: "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Human nature."},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":" In other words, the common characteristics and flaws of how humans think and behave. "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Virtue:"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":" the true demonstration of a good thinker and a well-rounded, fairminded person"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Wealth:"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":" what one ascribes value to. Specifically, I showed the tendency for people to ascribe money as wealth, but I wanted to show that true wealth is in healed and healthy relationships, living with a strong and consistent character, and taking care of others."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Point of View:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"My point of view is that humans are the way they are, but humans can change. That it is possible for humans to grow intellectually and ethically so that they can be better and can live differently in a toxic, damaged world. I considered the points of view of all classes of society and, unusually, the perspectives of gender and education. Unlike many other writers, I did not adopt a religious or moralistic perspective because I wanted to show that an ethical life need not be tied to fear of damnation or other rubbish that is often taught in religious circles."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Assumptions:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"I did take some aspects for granted, including that my readers would want to read about the intellectual and character growth of a young man. I also took for granted that my readers would be familiar with the context in which my story is written and is relevant. That said, my assumption was that people would be reading it in my day – not that it would become one of the most important works in English literature!"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Implications and Consequences:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"From my perspective, I am convinced that an implication of reading my novel is that the reader will be moved to analyze their own thoughts and behaviours. A consequence that I hope for is that the reader "},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","italic":true},"insert":"will"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":" change their actions not only in the ways they deceive themselves, but also in the ways they treat others. I also think that if people studied the first chapters of each book, they would gain important insights into the writing process and to its relationship to thinking."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222","bold":true},"insert":"Conclusions:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"white","color":"#222222"},"insert":"Humans are flawed and make innumerable mistakes; however, if one is committed to learning and to admitting when they have been wrong, there is hope for improvement. Although Blifil appears to be an inconsequential character in the novel, he is, in fact, a foil for Tom. I used the archetype of two brothers to show that, although nurture does have an effect on a person’s development, nature and choice are far greater indications of a person’s character. A person’s character cannot simply be represented in a single event or two, but must be shaped through difficulties over time. It is in the choices made daily, whether in ideal circumstances or when experiencing injustices, that a person may develop their intellectual habits of mind and may grow to become worthy of legend. "},{"insert":"\n\n\n\n"}]}