Question

Based on the ideas in Walden, how would Thoreau most likely feel about recent advances in technology, such as cell phones and handheld computers?
A) He would feel they were important for the public good.

B) He would believe they were beneficial to providing solitude.

C) He would believe they were destructive to a person’s thinking ability.

D) He would feel they were impractical compared to earlier inventions.

Answer 1

According to ideas in Walden, I suggest you to go with this one: C) He would believe they were destructive to a person’s thinking ability. It's the closest one from options given above.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Walden has very noticeable strong themes. The importance of self reliance, the Value of Simplicity, the Illusion of progress (Thoreau is very skeptical about considering technological advance as societal advance) and so on. Also, there's the life in the woods itself represented in Walden. So it's hard to see him seeing the new technology as important or beneficial. He was also a logical person, so finding impractical new and better technology is probably not the case. Which leaves us to the the correct answer, the option that fits all of Thoreau's worries.

Answer:

C) He would believe they were destructive to a person’s thinking ability.