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Philosophy In Lord Of The Flies Essay

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William Golding believed in the chaos of humanity. His belief that wickedness was produced by humans in the way bees produce honey, is an unpopular opinion for most philosophers in history. “Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains,” states another well-known philosopher: Jean-Jacques Rousseau(1). However, Golding’s book takes a very interesting look at philosophy, in time of war. Using the five branches of philosophy-Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Politics, and Esthetics-it is easy to see that though he may be in conflict with many other philosophers beliefs’, he himself is a great philosopher. The metaphysics (the philosophical look at existence) of Golding’s book are quite interesting. He questions the existence in essence of war, and desperation. It is absolute that the world around the boys’ existed. However, the world that they lived in was also one of their own creation. They created their own laws, and built boundaries for their characters’. The island, though, seemed to have a mind of its own. The boys were always at the will of the crashing sea, and the creatures that lurked in the trees. While, their biggest downfall was themselves, the island itself was their greatest fear, and what ultimately drove them mad. Simon, went mad with the knowledge that he had gained about life and death. On the island, there was much to learn. It’s very important to look at how this changed the way the boys on the island thought, or in other words the

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