Seminar Notes: Week 6

Joseph Addison –The Spectator No.476

Addison believes that irregularity and a lack of method in writings are only acceptable from true men of genius who have too much to say than to refine and order it for the reader.

He argues to have method in writing, to refine and order ones thoughts in discourse is better for both writer and reader. It allows the reader to better comprehend the text and remember it as the writer had in their thoughts.

Method should also be used in conversation he wishes due to its noticeable absence in debates between men.

He emphasises how debates may begin well, with clear questions but these are quickly lost as most men diverge into other topics, unable to answer the original question.

His writings portray debates as having little organisation and structure, little integrity as it is more prevalent that men avoid questions and pose other distracting questions to throw off the opponent. 

There are men who have no method yet due to their expert nature of avoiding questions and bringing in topics they are more comfortable in they gain followers too stupid to see through this guise.

Overall men of clear argument have advantage over those who don’t but those who don’t far outnumber the well prepared men of rationale. 

The Royal Exchange

The Royal Exchange details one man’s pleasure from associating with and observing merchants of all races and nationalities.

The Royal Exchange is essentially politics for merchants, where commerce between nations can be negotiated for all manner of things form food to clothes and furniture.

At this time period international trade was opening the world and nations were experiencing things such as exotic fruits they couldn’t before.

Trade had become a necessity as things as simple as meals often had ingredients derived from a multitude of different countries. 

Britain was one of the main hubs of trade and the Royal Exchange in London accommodated this. 

Riches were easily gained by these business ventures, trade allowed those with capital to invest to get far richer whilst allowing the poor to find work.