The main argument in the article “Addicts,
Mythmakers, and Philosophers,” specifically in the section “Addiction as a
Disorder,” is that addiction is much more complex than it seems, and there are
different layers to how addiction should be treated. The author, Alan Brody, supports this by
saying, “Addiction is not just a cause made up of a bunch of weak-willed acts.”
(Brody) In other words , addiction
is not something that can be easily controlled.
(Graff, 135) It is not something that a person can just stop doing at
any given moment. It is something that
takes over a person’s life, until they are drowning in the addiction, and it
seems as though they cannot escape. In fact, Brody points out that, “those
who follow addiction’s callings do not simply act from their own sanctioned
desires; they have often become the enchanted followers of yearnings arising
from a metastasized love.” (Brody) (Graff, 109)
In addition, Brody talks about how
addicts have a long path to recovery and that it must start within themselves.
(Graff, 110) Consider this quote, for example: “The ability to recover
often has to develop as a result of experiencing addiction’s deep hardships.”
(Brody) (Graff, 136) Many addicts have to hit rock bottom before they realize
that they have a problem and they have to seek help in order to beat their addiction. Usually some event occurs, where the addict
finally realizes that they have a problem, like when they put their need to fulfil
their addiction ahead of their own personal safety, or the wellbeing of people
close to them.
In
conclusion, I agree with Brody.
Addiction is a lot more complicated than it seems at first glance, and
cannot be overlooked as being a disorder.
Because, like Brody says, addiction “is not just a simple question of
misinformed choice.” (Brody)
Brody, Alan. "Addicts, Mythmakers and Philosophers." Philosophy Now. N.p., Oct.
2015. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. <https://philosophynow.org/issues/90/
Addicts_Mythmakers_and_Philosophers>.
Brody, Alan. "Addicts, Mythmakers and Philosophers." Philosophy Now. N.p., Oct.
2015. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. <https://philosophynow.org/issues/90/
Addicts_Mythmakers_and_Philosophers>.
Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. They Say / I Say. 3rd ed. New York:
W.W. Norton, 2015. Print.
I like the quote you used to describe an addict's thought process, "those who follow addiction's callings do not simply act from their own sanctioned desires; they have often become the enchanted followers of yearnings arising from a metastasized love." It describes how addiction isn't always in the addict's control, but is more an out-of-body desire that's difficult to manage.
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't forget to cite the article and TSIS at the end of your post :)
ReplyDeleteI took the same stance on this section of the article. I also agree that an addiction should be viewed as a mental illness that is extremely difficult to overcome. There must be a willingness for the person to help themselves in order for the addiction to be cured. Like you said, it often takes a major event to wake the addict up to their problem.
ReplyDeleteI like the quotes that you chose from the article, but I think you could have used stronger paradigms from TSIS to enhance your argument.