Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Discussion Questions for April 6th

We've now learned of four different political philosophies; Utilitarianism, Libertarianism, Lockean Democracy, and Kantian Idealism. For the following situations, feel free to use any of them, or pieces of all of them, to reach a decision on what the 'just' action should be. Of course you can always choose 'none of the above' and make your decision based on some other set of principles (although I'd love to hear what you disliked about the options given :>). Explain your rationale and have fun! 1.You are a bridesmaid at your sister's wedding, and her soon to be husband (for whom you have always had some special affection) makes a move on you. What do you do? 2.As a doctor, you have found a possible cure for cancer, but you must trest the drug on animals. There is a strong possibility that the animals tested will die. Should you go ahead and test the drug? 3.Your grandma knits you a pink sweater with bunnies (or anything else you would find embarassing :>) on it. She is coming to an important event in your honor and she wants to see you in the sweater she spent all year making. Do you wear the sweater?
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8 comments:

  1. cathytApril 19, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    This will be my last blog. I am turning in my book.

    After our last meeting it became apparent that I have a "philosophical” difference with the goal of the group. I believe that problem solving is a higher order thinking skill, and I believe that the district and Bloom would agree. Therefore, I feel that I must remain faithful to my curriculum and flex the analytical portion of my students’ brains.

    Please let me know when you collect time sheets.

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  2. gillrApril 20, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    1. Tough one here, especially if you have feelings for him. I suppose I would say we need to set down with my sister and let her know that this wedding will be a mistake and get everything out in the open. sure there will be hard feelings, but better to fix it now then wait.
    2. Tough one also. really don't know waht to say here since animals are Gods creatures also. This is a moral one that I can't answer. I see both sides of the issue here but I don't know if God would like me killing his creatures here. this is why I quit hunting.
    3.Of course I do. Out of respect for her I would do it without batting an eye. Who cares what others think it was made with love and that is all that counts!
    In closing I want to comment that we are all in this class for a reason (not just money, though that really really really helps!) and we all don't see eye to eye and have different philosophical differences, but I don't understand how someone can get so upset that they leave. Is this how we want to teach our kids? I am not trying to diss anyone here but this totally blows me away. I believe we are all faithful to the districts curriculum (even if we don't agree with it at times) but there are ways to teach both sides of the issue while staying positive and professional and keeping to the curriculum. I am not a "lemming" and will not go along with something if I know in my heart and mind it is wrong. I could go on and on here but alas I must stop.
    This was one of the toughest blogs to blog about. Really made me dwell deep down inside myself. I like that, I like being pushed and made to think and I mean really think!

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  3. JackApril 20, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    As for the political philosophies-Utilitarianism, Libertarianism, Lockean Democracy, and Kantian Idealism I am more Utilitarian but I like what Locke is saying.

    You are a bridesmaid at your sister's wedding, and her soon to be husband (for whom you have always had some special affection) makes a move on you. What do you do?

    Although I am not a bridesmaid, in this situation I would not allow the moves to go forward and would stop it by saying "Are you kiding? You are about to marry my sister!" My respect and loyality to my sister would outweigh my sexual desires.

    This would be the Kant take on things as it is the "right" thing to do. However, speaking in the Utilitarian point of view, what ever gains the most good for the most people would be the right choice. So now we need to make assumptions. Assuming that my sister doesn't find out and I will not be caught, I would choose the delight of my new partner as the greater good of two so more than the greater good of one. At least us two will enjoy, even though it may be short lived, a blissful romance, at least until the wedding.

    jack

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  4. Jay SwordsApril 20, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    1. In the situation of the wedding party 'approach', I'm utilitarian enough to believe that the long term goods of no one would be helped by keeping silent here.
    2. In the cancer situation, my utilitarian tendencies also lead me to conduct the experiments, even at the risk of loss of life of the animals. The long term gains here are too obvious to make the decision difficult. And by the way, when human testing comes around I'd be for that also, abet with the consent of the participants :>)
    3. Again Utilitarianism leads me to wear grandma's bunny sweater. Whatever 'embarassment' I might feel at the moment is more then compensated for by the joy it will bring Grandma from my point of view.

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  5. sheeheypApril 20, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    1. If you have actually reached the wedding ceremony, it is a bit ridiculous. In allowing your friendship/affair to continue with her husband, you are severing your good relationship with your sister. If he really wants to continue with the wedding, there is no room for a third party. I would want to tell my sister ahead of time to avoid future misery. If he is willing to make a move on you, who will it be in the future. I guess that is practical, common sense--utilitarian.
    2. In the cancer situation, I would also risk the loss of life to conduct experiments. If one is to find out the value of the drug, it is better to take a few risks ahead of time rather than wait to experiment on people, or perhaps miss an important cure for cancer that could be of help for the future.
    3. This would be hard to decide, but I would favor wearing the sweater, even if I did not want to, to please grandma rather than have her disappointed and have to make up a lie about why I was not wearing it. I would want to give her credit for all her hard work and time in making the sweater. This would be a challenge for me, but it would certainly be the selfless thing to do. Rather than please my selfish desire not to wear it, I would try to make the best of it for a day.

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  6. JackApril 20, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    cathyt...

    Sorry to see you go. I don't see this group as forcing us to do anything other than sharing our thoughts on a topic and challenging our students to think "out of the box" and reach a higher cognitive level. We can still use problem solving and bloom. I would say they are both getting to higher thinking levels. Analytical thinking is only part of what we are trying to do.

    There are really five types of thinking: Critical thinking: What am I trying to do?
    Analytical thinking: What parts make this problem?
    Creative thinking: How do I do this differently?
    Logical thinking: Can orderly reasoning help?
    Reflective thinking: What does it all mean?

    Again, sorry to see you go....
    jack

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  7. Ann GApril 20, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    Regarding the groom-to-be hitting on me, I would feel flirty and flattered for about a second. Then I would find a way to get the three of us together, privately, and tell him to tell my sister what just happened. If I tell her, her reaction is to me, and our relationship is tainted. When he tells her, I can back away, and let them figure it out. I suppose this is utilitarian in philosophy, but the label is not important to me.

    Pink sweater - piece of cake - I wear it with pride and love. If you asked me this when I was 15, I would still have worn it, but I would not have wanted to.

    Testing on animals for a new cancer treatment is out of the question for me. If Tylenol had been tested on cats, they all would have died, and Tylenol would not be available as an analgesic. It is toxic to cats. The cancer would need to be non-species-specific to begin with, if treatment results were to be valid. If the animals would likely die, then what is the point of testing a treatment to be used on humans? "Here is a new treatment for you - all the animals we tested died from it - open wide." LD-50 was a horrible test to increase doses of a human medication in animals, until 50% of them died. The Draize test caused thousands of rabbits with cone collars to have their eyes smeared with drain cleaner and ammonia and bleach and cosmetics -- so humans could be informed that they caused eye damage. Jay - was the intent of original Utilitarians to include non-human animals in the "greatest good for the greatest number"? I guess I assumed that was a totally human philosophy.

    Cathy, I was not present for the discussion that led you to withdraw. Let's chat. :)

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  8. ClintApril 20, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    1.I would change my attitude towards my sister’s betrothed. I’d ask his forgiveness for any misleading signals I may have sent. I’d clarify that what happened was indeed a ‘move’ on me. If it was, I’d ask for an apology. If he sees the error of his ways, I would explain the situation to my sister and ask her forgiveness for my part, and expect him to do the same. If on the other hand he does not assume responsibility nor change his ways, I would ask my sister to reconsider the engagement, consult the clergyman officiating over the wedding and even stand up in public opposition to the marriage.
    I do not believe a marriage should or could survive secrecy, adultery and lies.

    3.No. True love does not give gifts with strings attached. True love does not wish to see another person embarrassed or manipulated. I would accept the love embodied by the gift and return that affection by honoring her presence at the event, speaking publicly of my love and affection for her.

    If the situation allowed for silly sweaters, then I would not let pride get in the way of my love and I would wear it.

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