What Is Man? and Other Essays

"What Is Man? and Other Essays" by Mark Twain is a collection of essays and philosophical dialogues written in the late 19th century. The essays explore profound inquiries into human nature, morality, and the influences that shape our thoughts and behaviors. The opening dialogue focuses on a conversation between an Old Man and a Young Man, wherein they debate whether human beings are merely machines driven by external influences, leading to a discussion about personal merit and the essence of free will. The beginning of this work sets the stage for Twain’s exploration of existential questions and the concept of man as a machine. The Old Man argues that individuals do not create their thoughts or actions independently; instead, they are influenced and shaped by their experiences and environment, likening humanity's state to that of a complex engine rather than free-thinking beings. He discusses the origins of opinions and virtues, suggesting that every impulse—whether for noble or selfish reasons—is ultimately aimed at appeasing one's inner self. This establishes a provocative premise that invites readers to reflect on the essence of their own motives and the nature of human existence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature." Twain's novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), with the latter often called the "Great American Novel." He also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) and Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894) and cowrote The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner.