Gordon Marino's Essay 'A Life Beyond Do What You Love'

The phrase, “do what you love,” is a saying many of us use when it comes to choosing a college major or a career. However, one person questions that phrase by asking if it is “wisdom or malarkey” (Pg. 1). That person is Gordon Marino and he is a philosophy professor at St. Olaf College. His article, called, “A Life Beyond Do What You Love,” questions the famous motto by saying that sometimes we should not do what we love, but rather do other things that will make the world around us better. Dr. Marino questions the “do what you love” ideology by saying that sometimes it is best to do what we don’t like for the sake of others and the world around us. His already effective argument is enhanced by using techniques such as anecdotes, hypophoras, procatalepsis, and a high sense of credibility. Dr. Marino begins his essay effectively by introducing an anecdote. Anecdotes are real life examples that are used to enhance an argument by telling a story. Dr. Marino uses anecdotes to great length in his essay, as they help to shed some light on his life and further develop his argument. He appeals to the emotional sense of reader most of time with his use of anecdotes. For …show more content…
His use of anecdotes help to tell a story and provide insight on Dr. Marino’s life. Hypophoras and procatalepsis are used to highlight the counter argument, let the author address it, and then continue forward with the essay. Finally, the readers get a good sense of credibility and a massive appeal to authority which helps to solidify the author’s position to speak on the subject. Dr. Marino’s essay encourages everybody to think outside the box of just “do what you love”. Sometimes we must do what needs to be done to make the world around us a better place for everyone, rather than just solely focus on our own selfish