The Essence of Broness
Socrates asked Thoreau to coffee at a nearby Athenian Coffee shop. He has recently encountered a situation where a man was described as a bro. Socrates is unsure about the universal definition of the bro, and pertains to being a bro. He also felt as if he needed to explore the essence of broness. In this exploration he was interested in discovering the composition of broness. Socrates also questioned Thoreau on the difference between broness and the earthly function of the bro. Socrates was interested in Thoreau’s perspective on this topic seeing as he seems to be knowledgable in the interactions of people. Thoreau also often focuses on the induvidual opposed to Socrates’ universalist view on the world. Socrates is looking for a good conversation and to gain perspective on a topic his is uneducated in.
Socrates: I came across two men today. I was having tea, discussing the essence of “tea-ness” with an old friend. I was about to leave his home when I came across his son in the living room. He was with a friend. He introduced his friend by saying, “Hey Socrates, this is my bro”. I have never heard this word before. “Bro”, what exactly is the meaning of this? It seemed as if they were playing game cube and drinking natty ice, but do these actions pertain to being a bro?
Thoreau: In my past experience a bro is a man who has the ability to play an organized sport, to blow dry his hair into a flow, to boast about the action they got last night, to create the illusion of carelessness in regard to schoolwork while carefully color-coding their study guides, and follows the bro code.
Socrates: So this means all men who partake in these actions can be considered a bro?
Thoreau: Yes.
Socrates: But what if a man partakes in only some of the characteristics associated with being a bro?
Thoreau: The focus of this issue should be on the individual, not the all-encompassing definition. It is important that the power of the individual is taken into account when regarding bros as a whole.
Socrates: Can a single bro truly exist, or can no man fulfill the earthy function of broness?
Thoreau: Yes, of course, the power of the individual should always be accounted for.
Socrates: However, the pure essence of a bro must first be defined in order for one man to fulfill all of the qualities of a bro. The question is, what qualities must the bro attain? Also, how can a man know the essence of a bro?
Thoreau: Can any man be a bro or is a bro a specific type of man? Do certain qualities apply to all bros or do these qualities, when applied to any man, allows a man to embody the earthly function of a bro.
Socrates: No one earthly object can embody the essence. “The philosopher…frees the soul from association with the body as much as possible” (102). Broness can only be in its purest form when it is dissociated with the body of a man. One man can be applied toward the definition of a bro, but he himself cannot be “the” bro. The ultimate bro is a multi-faceted man. Each man that appears to embody what truly is a bro is only an illusion. If a man himself cannot embody the essence of a man, how should a specific type of man be able to fulfill the essence of broness?
Thoreau: If any man, as an individual, has the ability to play an organized sport, to blow dry his hair into a flow, to boast about the action they got last night, to create the illusion of carelessness in regard to schoolwork while carefully color-coding their study guides, then is it not chill to call him a bro?
Socrates: Is the calling of a man a bro really emphasizing that the man can embody the essence of broness?
thoreau: Yes, it does.
Socrates: But bro, by using the term bro loosely, how can a man know if another man is truly a bro? If a man attains some but not all of the essential characteristics, can he truly be a bro? Also, a single man cannot embody the essence of broness, but should value be placed upon the lesser earthly form of this concept?
Thoreau: The earthly form should not be considered lesser. If one man considers another man a bro, the bro fulfills enough of the earthly function to be what a man himself feels this function should be.
Socrates: Why should a single individual have the power of describing a man as a bro? Should man himself have that much power in the description and function of the universe?
thoreau: If the power of the individual is not accounted for, the power of the majority should also be disregarded. We need to remember, every group of people is comprised of individuals.
Socrates: Each individual, however, is equally unknowing.
Thoreau: Each individual is of utmost importance.
Socrates: The true question is, what does it mean to be a bro. Do all bros, if you want to assume a man can embody the essence of a bro, play and organized sport?
Thoreau: Not all.
Socrates: Do all bros, if you want to assume a man can embody the essence of a bro, have a flow?
Thoreau: Not all.
Socrates: Do all bros, if you want to assume a man can embody the essence of a bro, boat about the questionable action they got in the previous night?
Thoreau: Not all.
Socrates: Do all bros, if you want to assume a man can embody the essence of a bro, create the illusion of carelessness in regard to schoolwork while carefully color-coding their study guides?
Thoreau: Not all.
Socrates: If a bro does not embrace all of the universal characteristics of a bro, then how can he be displaying the earthly function?
Thoreau: Every aspect is not set in stone. Sometimes a man must transgress the status quo in order to be who they truly are.
Socrates: By transgressing the status quo, does he not transgress being a bro as well?
Thoreau: The bro is much more than simple characteristic. Being a bro is a lifestyle. There is a bro code, correlating to the law of mankind. The bro code relates how two bros must act towards each other.
Socrates: So are you saying the laws a man follows categorizes him as a man?
Thoreau: Yes, and the man that transgresses certain laws believes those are not right. Therefore, by following the bro code, a man can be defined as a bro.
Socrates: Is a man a bro because he follows the bro code or is the code that of bros because the actions and attitudes within this laws pertains to this specific type of man?
Thoreau: The bro code is followed by bros and therefore they are bros because they are following the bro code.
Socrates: What kind of man created the bro code?
Thoreau: Well, a bro, of course.
Socrates: How could there have been a bro before the bro code existed? This can be compared to the gods and piety. “It is being loved…because it is pious, but it is not pious because it is being loved”(13). Any man’s honor and respect for the gods is loved because it is pious, yet piety is not caused by the god’s love. A bro’s loyalty to the bro code is just as inconceivable. If a man cannot describe what imposes such laws upon him, why should he be recognized as this kind of man?
Thoreau: I could not tell you that, I only know certain men are loyal to this lifestyle. All bros follow the bro code.
Socrates: What does the bro code entail?
Thoreau: The first article of the bro code is bros before hoes.
Socrates: If a bro always comes before a hoe, does that mean a hoe cannot coexist with a bro?
Thoreau: Yes.
Socrates: But can a hoe exist without a bro?
Thoreau: Yes.
Socrates: But is a bro the opposite of a hoe?
Thoreau: Yes.
Socrates: Therefore, if one is not a bro he or she must be a hoe.
Thoreau: This cannot be true. You need to focus on the individual and there cannot only be two types of people. All people are different.
Socrates: So you are saying, a bro can exist. However, it is not possible for a bro to fulfill his earthly function if they do not have a universal definition.
Thoreau: Bro’s exist. However, some bros transgress the norm. A universal definition should not be applied to any group of people. Each man decides how he will behave and by following the bro code, they can be considered a bro. If a man does not follow the bro code, he is still a man yet not a bro. If a man follows parts of the bro code, his broness can be called into question
Socrates: How can a specific type of man be transgressing exactly what they are stereotyped to be? By being a bro their actions place them into a specific category, which only is filled by a bro.
Thoreau: I suppose that is true, he would be transgressing his own norm, therefore making him something else.
Socrates: It’s chill bro, lets go back to my place, have some natty ice, and play GameCube.
