"success-what is success?" and the response "personal freedom...from everything" (70)
This is a piece of a conversation between Lily and Seldon about the idea of success. Lily thinks success is about making the most out of life, "to get as much as one can out of life..." whereas Seldon's definition is about gaining personal freedom, freedom from everything material and concrete. I found this to be an interesting connection in the text to Marx, Nietzsche and Gandhi, (as well as along the themes of this entire semester...) that total success in life requires man to take a step back from society and its many restraints. To forget about material goods and focus on spiritual philosophy and knowledge.
Marx wants us to give up our obsession with material goods and work instead as a community for the good of everyone. Nietzsche stressed the rigid formality of society and the need man retained to break away from it. Gandhi also, spoke of personal freedom when he talked about living a simple, modest life of nonviolent behavior and without predetermined expectations or duties. All philosophies arguing the benefits of thinking for yourself. In a way, Lily is right as well, this is how to make the most out of life, to break from the norm and the dependency of modern civilization to enjoy life in its most natural state, a free mind and free body. Personal freedom.
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