Question

How does paragraph 3 contribute to the author’s argument in "What Fear Can Teach Us" By Karen Thompson?

Answer 1

Answer:

The paragraph is:

As we grow up, we’re often encouraged to think of fear as a weakness, just another childish thing to discard like baby teeth or roller skates. And I think it’s no accident that we think this way. Neuroscientists have actually shown that human beings are hard-wired to be optimists. So maybe that’s why we think of fear, sometimes, as a danger in and of itself. “Don’t worry,” we like to say to one another. “Don’t panic.” In English, fear is something we conquer. It’s something we fight. It’s something we overcome. But what if we looked at fear in a fresh way? What if we thought of fear as an amazing act of the imagination, something that can be as profound and insightful as storytelling itself?

The author aims to redefine fear as a creative tool that can enhance storytelling.

Explanation:

In this paragraph, Karen Thompson challenges the society's prevailing concept of fear; that it is something to overcome, something to constantly fight. She argues that fear is much more than we've been told. Fear is complex and broad and we ourselves have to figure out whether we overcome it or learn from it. She concludes by arguing that fear can not only be a powerful motivator, but it can also be used as a powerful creative tool.