Gorgias asserted that objective perception is impossible. Socrates agreed that it is highly unlikely, but claimed that through knowledge of the self, through knowing where we individually are most likely to distort data, we can come ever closer to perceiving what is truth. With this in mind, what are your subjectivities, biases, prejudices, tastes, etc.? Which have the greatest possibility of distorting your perceptions?

Before you begin writing, read the NYT article by Stanley Fish and the follow-up article on Postmodernism. How important is a knowable, objective reality in supporting all of the ideas that make us human; e.g, how does the supposed “moral relativism” of postmodernism affect our humanity?

Consider your own means of arriving at specific decisions concerning the “rightness” or “wrongness” of certain activities. Are you more of a moral “relativist” or “absolutist” in this process? (Note: this is a question more of process than of specific moral issues though you may wish to refer to specific activities for examples.)

Put this question in the context of technology, especially in terms of on-line communities and virtual realities. Read Jullian Dibbell’s “A Rape in Cyberspace” before considering your answer. How does our increasing use of technology change our conceptions of morality? Does it?

An airliner is hijacked by terrorists who threaten to blow up the plane and all its passengers if your nation does not release from custody certain convicted criminals. If it was your responsibility to decide how your nation would respond, what would your decision be? Why? (Are there any basic moral principles involved in the criteria for your decision?)

Consider the U.S.’s policy on terrorism by examining several of the documents at the “Terrorism: Threat Assessment, Countermeasures, and Policy” site. Once you feel you can articulate, in general, just what this country’s official policy regarding terrorism is, write your journal entry. Are there any points that you uncovered that do not agree with your own beliefs? You may want to do an Internet search on commentary about U.S. foriegn policy. Consider pages like “U.S. Policies Contribute to Acts of Terrorism.”

Should the Media Be Controlled?

Do you believe that there should be any effort to legally control the presentation of “news” by newspapers and television? Damage has been done to individuals as a result of loosely controlled media reports:

Lurid reporting of crime (especially bizarre ones) seems to trigger further incidents (e.g., skyjackings, snipings, sex crimes).

Different networks or newspapers have reported events of national importance totally differently from each other. For example, during the 1972 Democratic Convention in Chicago, one network showed dirty, vulgar, hippie-type protesters crudely abusing the fine family men of Chicago’s police department; while another network showed a metropolitan Gestapo mistreating beautiful, young Americans exercising their heritage of lawful protest. Yet, our concept of government necessitates that citizens be informed in order to put proper pressure on legislators.

Reporting of shortages (gas and toilet paper) tended in some cases to actually create more of a shortage by causing panic buying.

Before you begin writing, look up ammendment 1 of the US Constitution. How do your views on this topic reconcile with your interpretation of the first ammendment? Can you find examples of “irresponsible” reporting online?

How do you see human achievements in technology affecting humanity in general? Do you consider technology a boon, something that should be pursued at any cost, or would you like to see limits put on the creation and use of new technologies. Read Bill Joy’s “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” and comment on Joy’s solution. What is the problem as he sees it and his solution? Do you agree? Find at least one other contrasting view on the Web. You might start with Rants & Raves or at KurzweilAI.

Human Rights versus Majority Rule

Test your attitude toward human rights legislation by examining your views on the issue which began in Miami several years ago and then rapidly spread across the nation: the attempt to legally abolish in public employment discrimination based on sexual preference (hetro/homo). Members of the gay community have decided in increasing numbers to “come out of the closet,” no longer consciously hiding their sexual inclinations; it is now entirely possible that a person’s homosexual preference could be public knowledge without that person ever having behaved in any way inappropriately or improperly. Communities may then argue that they do not want such a role model teaching elementary school and influencing their children. We live in a society concerned both about human rights and about the will of the majority. What happens when these concerns clash? Examine your views relative to your moral, social, and/or political philosophy.

Aristotle makes a case for the legitimacy of “instrumental ends,” i.e., acts that are done as a means to other ends, as an ethical concept if they help man fulfill his function as a man. This notion has a direct relationship to the oldest of moral issues: Are there some goals (ends) so important that they justify any means used to achieve them? (e.g. winning a war; throwing people out of overcrowded lifeboats; lying, cheating, stealing, even killing for a good cause; selective cannibalism; etc.)

Consider the current political climate in America, marked by post-9/11 insecurities. How do you interpret Bush’s current political strategy? What are his ends and how will he go about achieving them? Are we different than the “terrorists” who killed thousands of people on 9/11? Do the means sometimes overshadow the ends?

Competition

What importance do you place on competition as a component of the growth of personality and character? Is it an essential experience which should be cultivated in children? Is it an experience which would not exist in a perfect world? Should there be competition in public schools such as band and chorus contests, spelling bees, athletic events, art contests, science awards, etc.? What damage is done to the child who can never win?

A local ruffian has been terrorizing your five teen-aged girls with possible intent to harm or to kill. The police are unable to help until he is actually caught committing a crime. You are one of the parents with roots in the community; to move elsewhere would disrupt the family and their lifestyles. What do you do? And, are you willing to bet your daughters’ lives on your plan?

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy” (Hamlet 1.5.175-6). Indeed, throughout the entire recorded history of humankind, events have been reported that our best scientific minds could not explain. How do you tend to respond to reports of events such as encounters with ghosts, psychic phenomena, UFO sightings, etc.? If you give any credence to any such stories, how do you reconcile this with your general view of the nature of the world? How do you integrate these thoughts with your religious views?

The gods of Greek myth were invented by the people in an attempt to rationalize and explain the world around them. Before people can feel secure in their worlds, they must orient themselves therein; i.e., they must tentatively define what they believe to be the nature of the world so that they may develop a pattern of behavior which is the logical and practical consequence of their beliefs. What, then, are your basic metaphysical assumptions?

Whose values should control society?

Do you think that we should in any way attempt to influence the attitudes, values, or behavior of others? Parents generally feel a responsibility for the values with which their children grow up. Schools and churches also attempt to teach certain values. With the advent of behavioral science, the teaching of values has become something which can be done with high degrees of success, thus putting much responsibility upon those of us who dare to indoctrinate. What indoctrination techniques would you be willing to employ in your home or within the community in general to convince others that your values are the correct ones?

State Law

Any adult found guilty of having sex with a minor must serve a mandatory jail sentence of three years. A girl’s father found out, through her diary, that she was having sexual relations with her eighteen-year-old boyfriend; she is only fourteen. The girl’s father makes the D.A. prosecute the boyfriend. You are on the jury and you have no doubt of a sexual relationship between the adult and the minor. The judge reminds you that if you believe them guilty you are obligated by law to say so. How, and why, do you vote?

The Alligator River Story

Once upon a time there was a woman named Abigail who was in love with a man named Gregory. Gregory lived on the shore of a river. Abigail lived on the opposite shore of the river. The river which separated the two lovers was teeming with ravenous alligators. Abigail wanted to cross the river to be with Gregory. Unfortunately, the bridge had been washed out and would not be repaired for several weeks. She did not have time to drive fifty miles to the next bridge and return for work the next day. So she went to ask Sinbad, a river boat captain, to take her across. He said he would be glad to if she would consent to having sexual intercourse with him preceding the voyage. She promptly refused and went to a friend named Ivan to explain her plight. Ivan did not want to be involved at all in the situation. Abigail felt her only alternative was to accept Sinbad’s terms. Sinbad fulfilled his promise to Abigail and delivered her into the arms of Gregory.

When she told Gregory about her concupiscence in order to cross the river, Gregory cast her aside with disdain. Heartsick and dejected, Abigail turned to Slug with her tail of woe. Slug, feeling compassion for Abigail, sought out Gregory and beat him brutally. Abigail was overjoyed at the sight of Gregory getting his due. As the sun sets on the horizon, we hear Abigail laughing at Gregory.

Rate these characters in terms of your respect for them (1 being the highest and 5 being the lowest). Give each character a different number and tell why you rated them as you did.