ARTICLE CRITIQUE 30 mins

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Olusegun Adefolaju Section 01/02

SUMMARY AND CRITIQUE: THE MORAL BUCKET LIST

Olusegun Adefolaju

NAIT

For

COMMUNICATION 1101

INSTRUCTOR: KATHY COCCHIO

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Brooks, D. (2015, April 11). The moral bucket list. The New York Times [New York Edition], p. SR1.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/opinion/sunday/david-brooks-the-moral-bucket-

list.html

Summary Word Count: 123

Critique Word Count: 411

Summary

Brooks (2015) describes a common path that individuals take to attain self-discovery and true

accomplishment. As opposed to being born perfect, individuals must follow a path that is shaped by

their experiences to become better versions of themselves. With the analogy of a bucket list, Brooks

explains some of the accomplishments and experiences that define a person who attains true fulfilment.

Brooks recognizes a pattern of challenge, self-discovery and fulfilment in people who stand out to really

make an impact. Brooks says that when an individual relegates self-gratification in favour of a search for

the true meaning of life, they experience true fulfilment and touch the lives of others. Brooks says that it

is this type of fulfilment that individuals should pursue.

Critique

Brooks (2015) believes that a person must take deliberate actions to become morally good and

attain inner fulfilment. They argue that a person’s good character matters more than marketable skills.

Brooks, a political and cultural commentator with the New York times illustrates the importance

of attaining true self-fulfillment. Brooks attempts to persuade readers to pursue goals that transcend

career success to improve themselves and build a good character. In a world that preaches more about

self, Brooks challenges readers to strive to improve themselves and look out for others.

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Brooks uses a range of rhetorical appeals to persuade readers. For example, Brooks establishes

ethos by comparing two sets of the virtues that a person might possess. Brooks explains that one set of

virtues is highlighted on our résumés and the other at our funeral and when we are long gone. The

second set of virtues define our moral character of caring for others, honesty and kindness. By saying

that moral virtues will be mentioned at our funeral, Brooks draws the attention of readers to the

moment they fear the most. As a result, the strategy may convince readers of the validity of Brooks

argument.

To support their argument, Brooks uses examples to explain some of the accomplishments they

identified as typical of persons who are fulfilled. Each example provides a testimony of a person who

worked to develop and improve their moral character and in doing so achieved fulfillment. Brooks

(2015) identifies these accomplishments to be “humility shift” (pp. 10), “self-defeat” (pp. 12) and

“dependency leap” (pp. 13).

Brooks states that everyone knows that moral virtues are more important than marketable

skills. To a large extent, this is not true because not everyone would agree with such statement. In

effect, readers who do not agree may find it difficult to agree with reasonings in the rest of the article.

Brooks uses an informal, friendly and encouraging tone to connect with readers. They introduce

the argument by describing how they admire people who are morally good. Brooks (2015) describes

such people as radiating “inner light” (pp. 1) that “brightens my day” (pp. 2). By expressing their

aspiration to attain a similar level of moral good, Brooks identifies with his readers that no one is

perfect. As such, we must all strive to be better.

By challenging readers to focus on their moral virtues, Brooks aims to promote the idea that one

can attain inner fulfillment and make the world better for all.