Per the following link, on questions of morality and where they stem from, I followed another link to find out my own morality profile.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/science/18mora.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=science
I have realized that I am neither a liberal or a conservative. Yet, I did identify more with liberals in that I placed more importance on harm and fairness, rather than authority, purity or loyalty. Apparently I am not loyal. And I feel as if the test I took does not take other political viewpoints in mind. I am loyal to things that deserve loyalty. Yet, everything has the option of breaking that loyalty. What if organization A has my loyalty- I'll be there biggest fan. Yet, I find out that organization A has been doing immoral things, BAM, loyalty gone.
I think most people would be act in a similar manner. At least I suppose most would. And if they wouldn't, I would only suppose the person who remained loyal had been brainwashed and was not as strong as I was.
I have always been chastised for my lack of loyalty. And the simplicity of the matter is that I am loyal, but I don't see the need for it. I trust that most will act out in a disappointing manner. I'd rather be surprised by a positive action, than continually expect one and thus be constantly disappointed. I'm a realist and I don't think I have room for realism and loyalty.
Is this wrong? Am I being disloyal to myself?
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
The juxtaposition of life
A good friend of mine recently packed her bags and headed to Senegal with the Peace Corps. She will be assisting with small business development while seeing a new part of the world. While my intentions here are not to delve into her personal reasons, I find the Peace Corps an interesting organization. Rather I find the motivations for joining interesting.
I find myself talking about the atrocities in the world, then going back home and taking a nap (my personal greatest luxury in life) while watching TV. We sit in class and talk about cosmopolitanism, but who can really practice it? Anyone can think about things, but few people will do anything. But, do we have to help everyone we can? And when we help, should we run off to Africa and hug the little children? Is that what proves that we act upon our beliefs? Or is giving that extra change to the Salvation Army outside the mall enough?
Sadly, I don’t have the answers. I do however think it’s not enough just to talk and think. Something has to happen. Yet, not everyone has the capacity to drop 2 years and go to Africa. Does that make them bad people? Or are the people who run off to Africa the ones yelling “look at me doing good things for humanity” the bad ones? How do we do a good deed?
I find honesty a good place to start. Honesty is not going to sign your check book and pack your bags, but it will keep the ego in check. It seems that we know what we ought to do for humanity. And when we do help out, we want everyone to know. I think our honesty can help us not blow thing out of proportions.
Although, I’m still at a loss of how to assess the worlds problems while enjoying my particular luxuries. Does this conflict with cosmopolitanism? I think it does, but I can not seem to find a comfortable resting place between these two ideals.
Maybe that’s the crux- we aren’t supposed to find a comfortable place. We are supposed to constantly be uncomfortable by the terrors of the world and our place in it.
I find myself talking about the atrocities in the world, then going back home and taking a nap (my personal greatest luxury in life) while watching TV. We sit in class and talk about cosmopolitanism, but who can really practice it? Anyone can think about things, but few people will do anything. But, do we have to help everyone we can? And when we help, should we run off to Africa and hug the little children? Is that what proves that we act upon our beliefs? Or is giving that extra change to the Salvation Army outside the mall enough?
Sadly, I don’t have the answers. I do however think it’s not enough just to talk and think. Something has to happen. Yet, not everyone has the capacity to drop 2 years and go to Africa. Does that make them bad people? Or are the people who run off to Africa the ones yelling “look at me doing good things for humanity” the bad ones? How do we do a good deed?
I find honesty a good place to start. Honesty is not going to sign your check book and pack your bags, but it will keep the ego in check. It seems that we know what we ought to do for humanity. And when we do help out, we want everyone to know. I think our honesty can help us not blow thing out of proportions.
Although, I’m still at a loss of how to assess the worlds problems while enjoying my particular luxuries. Does this conflict with cosmopolitanism? I think it does, but I can not seem to find a comfortable resting place between these two ideals.
Maybe that’s the crux- we aren’t supposed to find a comfortable place. We are supposed to constantly be uncomfortable by the terrors of the world and our place in it.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Does everybody matter? What about people within corporate America’s supply chains?
In our society, realistically, everyone does not matter. More specifically, in Western society only those who vote count, or rather those who vote on the right side matter. So, in a rough approximation (based on my cursory knowledge that roughly 50% of Americans vote and then 50% of that elect) 25% of Americans have a voice. So, no everyone does not matter.
Random Question Time
Was slavery right?
Random Question Answer
No. At least I hope that is your answer. But yet, slavery happened anyways.
So, how do we take this all in? We move on determined not repeat our mistakes. And to do this we must remember that just because something happened, or is happening, that doesn’t make it right. Everybody matters; everyone everywhere.
Immanuel Kant said “Do what is right, though the world may perish.” Kant was a very smart man. One who realized that every man has an intrinsic value that ought to be recognized. In this sense, to me, Kant was the ultimate in cosmopolitanism. The right thing to do might wreck society or wreck a business- but honestly what sort of business or world is it that a dose of morality would crumble it? Is that really something you would want to be a part of? I don’t.
But how do we get out of this world and into the ideal one I have imagined where all are equal? I don’t think we can, realistically. But we can slowly stand up for what we believe, in fair pay and fair commerce and the sort. And maybe, just maybe, we can slowly change the minds of those who the 25% elected.
Random Question Time
Was slavery right?
Random Question Answer
No. At least I hope that is your answer. But yet, slavery happened anyways.
So, how do we take this all in? We move on determined not repeat our mistakes. And to do this we must remember that just because something happened, or is happening, that doesn’t make it right. Everybody matters; everyone everywhere.
Immanuel Kant said “Do what is right, though the world may perish.” Kant was a very smart man. One who realized that every man has an intrinsic value that ought to be recognized. In this sense, to me, Kant was the ultimate in cosmopolitanism. The right thing to do might wreck society or wreck a business- but honestly what sort of business or world is it that a dose of morality would crumble it? Is that really something you would want to be a part of? I don’t.
But how do we get out of this world and into the ideal one I have imagined where all are equal? I don’t think we can, realistically. But we can slowly stand up for what we believe, in fair pay and fair commerce and the sort. And maybe, just maybe, we can slowly change the minds of those who the 25% elected.
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