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The Neglect: Sloth Analysis

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In his article, "The Neglect of the Intellect: Sloth," Dr. Mortimer J. Adler assigns a new definition to the word "sloth," using it to describe anyone who willfully neglects their intellectual abilities in favor of fruitless leisure. A sloth commits the worst of academic transgressions, forsaking even the basic act of reading in favor of pleasure, fame, and fortune. These sloths refuse to consider books, along with the majority of written material, as meaningful ways to enrich the mind. In reality, reading serves a particular purpose, especially to those students seeking knowledge and intelligence; it constitutes a timeless conversation that is only achieved through critically reading and analyzing the content. That conversation between
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