Order of Importance in Gould's Nonmoral Nature

418 Words1 Page

Order of Importance in Gould's Nonmoral Nature

Many things can be put into order. Time, people, and events can all be placed in a logical order. The way that things are put into order can greatly affect the impact that they have. In Gould's Nonmoral Nature, the order in which he presents the different points of view is very important. He uses scientists who have been dominant in their profession but that are not commonly known in the begining and middle of his writing. However, to close out his work, he uses the prominent scientist Darwin to leave a lasting impression on the reader. Gould's use of order greatly affects the way that people perceive his work.
Gould's order has two effects on the reader. First, by putting Darwin last, he allows the reader to get acquainted with the ideas of some great minds whom the reader may not have been exposed to before. The reader can then think about these ideas that have ben presented to them and compare them with their own thoughts and ideas. Darwin is known for his theories, therefore people are more apt to assimilate their ideas to his. If Gould were to put Darwin's point of view first, the reader may be less likely to agree with some of the other ideas that are presented in Nonmoral Nature. By putting Darwin last, Gould allowed the reader to form their own opinion and then compare this to Darwin's ideas in the conclusion of the story.
The second effect of Gould's use of order is that the reader, having read Darwin last, may be more inclined to believe the other evidence that in presented in the story. Darwin is a man who is well known and held in high esteem for his studies. With these attributes to his name, Darwin leaves a lasting impact on the reader. After the reader has formed their own thoughts and ideas on the matter of Nonmoral Nature, they are given the chance to Darwin's ideas for the benefit of their own thought.

Open Document