After watching the documentary “Expelled” my view is the same as is was before watching it; because this will not rest, I think the best way to go about the teaching of intelligent design is teach the controversy. The big key is that this issue will not rest. We are all going to have to come to a compromise somewhere and I believe this is the best way because it does not strictly teach one side or the other. Yes it may bring questions to people but in the words of Socrates what is living without question.
I found that both “Expelled” and “Flock of Dodos” was very redundant in saying the same thing over and over again but argued by different people. They argued constantly that I.D. has no proof therefore they can't really give any hard argument besides something’s being too complex to explain. Both films did talk about it all starting with one single organism, “Expelled” explained more on the topic and when argued about what happen before the one cell is where things get very hazy. Professor Richard Dawkins made a clear point that religion and faith in God were only barriers holding people back from the truth. His beliefs were strong that there was no God which stirred many emotions with many others. The one part of the film “Expelled” that was most interesting that the “Flock of Dodos” didn’t talk about was the Holocaust and relating intelligent design to Hitler and the events that happened throughout the Holocaust. When Mr. Stein walked through the cambers where many innocent people died it was hard to watch.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Crito
I believe with Socrates on the argument; it seems I can make more of a connection with him and how he stays true to the law instead of Crito trying to free Socrates just for his own reputation. “But why, my dear Crito, should we care about the opinion of the many? Good men, and they are the only persons who are worth considering, will think of these things truly as they occurred” – Socrates (Pg/43). Socrates brings up a good point that is not only pertains to his situation but to everyone everyday; he says we should not care what people think because most of them do not know.
The “Law and Justice” packet was all about doing what we as citizens believe in but respecting the law while doing so. In the “Crito” Socrates makes a very good case that is an example of law and justice by abiding by respecting the law even if it may be unjust, whereas Crito wants to free Socrates because he believes something must be done about the unjust law. It makes a very similar connection about having our own morals as does Socrates in which he can not go back on his word and take death over exile.
The “Law and Justice” packet was all about doing what we as citizens believe in but respecting the law while doing so. In the “Crito” Socrates makes a very good case that is an example of law and justice by abiding by respecting the law even if it may be unjust, whereas Crito wants to free Socrates because he believes something must be done about the unjust law. It makes a very similar connection about having our own morals as does Socrates in which he can not go back on his word and take death over exile.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Plato - Apology
Let me relate to you a passage of my own life which will prove to you that I should never have yielded to injustice from any fear of death that is “as I should have refused to yield” I must have died at once. –Socrates (Pg/24)
This small passage was highlighted in my eyes as I read through the “Apology”. Socrates is saying that he should never have hesitated to do what he believes in only because he feared in death because it may have been unjust. Taking into consideration how it is interpreted in the dialogue I feel I can relate to exactly what he said but in a different context. I am trying to say I can related to the underlined “as I should have refused to yield” part of the passage. It reminds me of all the times I took those risks to do something and those times I didn’t take chances that were there because I thought it wasn’t a smart idea. The one reason I chose this passage it because it reminded me of something my grandmother told me once, “You’ll never know if you don’t take the chance.” It has been my life motto ever since because she was absolutely right, if we “yield” to the things we believe in or the chances that are in front of us we will never know what could have been if we don’t try. I try to take that into every decision I make, what type of life do we live if we don’t live every moment to the fullest.
This small passage was highlighted in my eyes as I read through the “Apology”. Socrates is saying that he should never have hesitated to do what he believes in only because he feared in death because it may have been unjust. Taking into consideration how it is interpreted in the dialogue I feel I can relate to exactly what he said but in a different context. I am trying to say I can related to the underlined “as I should have refused to yield” part of the passage. It reminds me of all the times I took those risks to do something and those times I didn’t take chances that were there because I thought it wasn’t a smart idea. The one reason I chose this passage it because it reminded me of something my grandmother told me once, “You’ll never know if you don’t take the chance.” It has been my life motto ever since because she was absolutely right, if we “yield” to the things we believe in or the chances that are in front of us we will never know what could have been if we don’t try. I try to take that into every decision I make, what type of life do we live if we don’t live every moment to the fullest.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Intelligent Design
We have to take the old with the new. After reading the articles, seeing “Flock of Dodos”, and discussing the topic of intelligent design and creationism I find it obvious to “teach the controversy”. I understand that teaching the controversy violates the separation of church and state because there is no way to get around taking about God just as we talked about in class. Not to mention an exception to this case is obviously out of the question, it is also obvious this topic will not just be dropped. Somewhere they are going to have to come to a compromise if anything wants to be accomplished and I see teaching the controversy or teaching both sides without a bias could be the painless way but also it could be the most effective to let the students decide on their own.
It is clear I agree with the professors from “Flock of Dodos” who say “teach the controversy”, and this is only me, but I can not stand the people who are so narrow minded that religion is the only true answer to everything such as some of the Christians interview in the video. I loved the example in “Inherit the Wind” when Drummond asks Brady if he ever thought it possible a day could be longer than 24 hours; I do not understand how some people can believe strictly one side without even giving the other a chance. If I’m not mistaken Allison said she was religious and she was able to see both sides instead of being narrow minded. At least she is willing to give it a chance that there could be something different than God creating it all in 7 days. I was glad she said that because it opened my eyes that I’m the same way and I can definitely see both point but something somewhere has to give.
It is clear I agree with the professors from “Flock of Dodos” who say “teach the controversy”, and this is only me, but I can not stand the people who are so narrow minded that religion is the only true answer to everything such as some of the Christians interview in the video. I loved the example in “Inherit the Wind” when Drummond asks Brady if he ever thought it possible a day could be longer than 24 hours; I do not understand how some people can believe strictly one side without even giving the other a chance. If I’m not mistaken Allison said she was religious and she was able to see both sides instead of being narrow minded. At least she is willing to give it a chance that there could be something different than God creating it all in 7 days. I was glad she said that because it opened my eyes that I’m the same way and I can definitely see both point but something somewhere has to give.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Last Blog/1st Quarter
I think the most interesting theme in our class has been the “Law and Justice” topic we just finished. Inherit the Wind is really what got my attention for this theme because it was one of those books once I started to read I couldn’t put down. I could say I learned to always stand up for what I believe in even if it may be wrong, but we already do that, the theme more gave me the drive to go out and let my voice be heard; instead of just putting my two cents in I want to make it clear everyone knows what I think. It’s not just a lesson we learn in class and then soon forget I will be able to take it with me as I move on. The value of this theme brings me back to the “Law and Justice” article, “I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustices is in reality expressing the very highest respect for the law” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Law and Justice
“It’s your right to break the law when your conscience is offended; but then you must accept your punishment” (Pg/119).
The quote above is from the “Accept Your Punishment!” section from Socrate’s position. Law is explained as man made rules that are set and stone for what are to be abided by and the result of breaking these rules do have consequence usually being a fine or prison. Justice is defined as what is believed by our own conscience. The main message of this section of the article is we must respect the laws even if it means breaking them but then by serving the punishment to make our point clear not because we have to.
Both law and justice are most definitely necessary to make our country as fair as possible. Laws set the ground rules for citizens to determine what is supposed to be right and wrong. Sometimes laws are absurd and that’s where justice comes into play. Who knows where we would be if there weren’t those few who stood up for what they thought was right to make our country a better place, such as the article mentions Martin Luther King Jr. and how he made his statement by standing up for what he believed in and then serving his punishment to make it clear to his people. I believe there is only one change that has affected law and justice over time; we as a country have slowly cared less and less. People’s morals seem to be a lot less today than they were 30-50 years ago and it seems more or less like the domino effect where we let one thing slide and haven’t stopped since the start.
The quote above is from the “Accept Your Punishment!” section from Socrate’s position. Law is explained as man made rules that are set and stone for what are to be abided by and the result of breaking these rules do have consequence usually being a fine or prison. Justice is defined as what is believed by our own conscience. The main message of this section of the article is we must respect the laws even if it means breaking them but then by serving the punishment to make our point clear not because we have to.
Both law and justice are most definitely necessary to make our country as fair as possible. Laws set the ground rules for citizens to determine what is supposed to be right and wrong. Sometimes laws are absurd and that’s where justice comes into play. Who knows where we would be if there weren’t those few who stood up for what they thought was right to make our country a better place, such as the article mentions Martin Luther King Jr. and how he made his statement by standing up for what he believed in and then serving his punishment to make it clear to his people. I believe there is only one change that has affected law and justice over time; we as a country have slowly cared less and less. People’s morals seem to be a lot less today than they were 30-50 years ago and it seems more or less like the domino effect where we let one thing slide and haven’t stopped since the start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)