When I Heard The Learned Astronomer By Walt Whitman

The Modern World is Everchanging

Although scientific developments and technological advancements are generally considered exciting, not everyone agrees with this opinion. Most of the time, science and technological innovations can significantly change and improve our lives. However, some may find certain advancements and developments unnecessary, as some may believe a simpler way of life suits them better. The poems "To a Locomotive in Winter" and "When I Heard the Learned Astronomer" by Walt Whitman express his opinions on science and technological advancement. Defining his attitudes within the poems is challenging, as they seem quite contradictory. In "To a Locomotive in Winter," Whitman mostly maintains a positive attitude towards science

As everyone's abilities and interests differ, it is perfectly fine if someone is not interested in each given area. For example, in "When I Heard the Learned Astronomer," Whitman appears to be uninterested in the science behind astronomy and takes on more of a negative attitude towards it. He enjoys focusing on the beauty of the surroundings, especially the stars and space, for which he appears to have a special appreciation. When he writes, "[l]ook'd up in perfect silence at the stars" ("When I Heard the Learned Astronomer," line 8), he is expressing his feelings of awe while gazing at the stars. He may believe that something as majestic as the stars cannot be explained mathematically or scientifically. He may find it offensive to the stars' beauty to do so, as he describes feeling "tired and sick" (line 5), after listening to the astronomer. Whitman is not aiming to discredit anyone's work or take value away from it. As he did attend the astronomers lecture and heard what he had to say. He is simply describing how he finds it boring and maybe unnecessary. Space exploration is important work but may not be viewed as needed like other innovations and

We might appreciate one aspect of a concept but still, need to be convinced of its other parts. Throughout our lives, it is imperative to remain faithful to ourselves when experiencing and evaluating various aspects of the world. However, we can always strive to be open-minded and thoughtful in our approach to brand-new ideas. Whitman does just that when evaluating the latest technological and scientific advancements of his time. In terms of whether Whitman has a positive or negative attitude toward science, he has both. Whitman believed that while science and technology could be helpful, it could also be a distraction from the natural world and its beauty. He praised the locomotive for its power and strength but acknowledged that it might be too powerful for our world. Similarly, he had respect for the astronomer's knowledge and understanding of the universe, but he was dissatisfied with the disconnect he felt it caused him with nature. We should always attempt to gain a complete understanding of a concept before making a judgement, just as Whitman did when attempting to hear what the astronomy lecturer had to say. Furthermore, having multifaceted opinions should be considered the standard practice, as many things in our world are far from