In light of today's discussion, I've decided to draw lines in the proverbial sand. (I like these lines, because the 'tide of knowledge,' so to speak, will whimsically erase and move them.) The reason behind this decision is simply because I do not know that all my posts will automatically pertain to Ethics & Animals; however, I wish to keep them together because they are pertinent to my current metamorphosis as a human being.
I shall draw at least 2 lines right now: Praxis & Virtue/Ethics.
This idea of praxis is presenting a challenge to me. I understand what it means, and that knowledge _is_ the challenge -- the move from theories and hypothetical "what if's" to actions. To declare, by action(s), my stance. (Damn that's scary... the decision to no longer be indecisive...)
The stance (so far) that I'm working to, trying to understand, is Virtue Ethics. (I'm doing an independent study through the English dept. on "The Concept of Virtue in Literature" -- which is, in short, a study of 'virtuous' activites/behaviors of various cultures throughout time (Confucius, Tao de Ching, Baghavad Gita, Christine de Pisan, Native American culture, Aristotle, Boethius, and the Seven Deadly Sins).) While there are many ways to achieve the goal, it seems important to outline as many routes as possible -- the more options available, the more available Virtue, itself, becomes.
And someplace in-between these two lines falls Ethics & Animals -- I must understand what it means to be virtuous, and how to enact that across the board.
For too long I've been inconsistent...
And now that I realize that, it bothers me to re-engage in my previous ostrich-ness.
Truly - what's the point in being a scholar if I do not follow through with what I say and think?
However, some things are unclear to me (i.e. I hate violence/anger, and consider myself a pacifist. However, what about in the light of self-defense? or defense of loved ones?), so I shall use this blog as a way of working those issues out as well, leaning on everything that I'm learning this semester in Logic, Moral Relativism, Ethics & Animals, as well as Virtue. (I recognize that this is a lifelong venture. But, I think it's about time that I get started on this path... I've been sitting on the fence for so long that I think my bum's sore.)
In light of these 'lines', I'll title each post with (praxis), (virtue), and/or (e&a) accordingly. Obviously, some will be fuzzy and combinations of these topics, but at least we'll have some general heading to file them under.
I learned a lot last semester. Now it's time to put these ideas into practice.
P.S. Would it be helpful to post the (completed) essays from my independent study? (obviously, so there are no quarrels with plagarism and/or idea stealing, I'd only post those that have been graded; I've still got lots left to do before the study can be considered done.)
T.E.S.
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6 comments:
I look forward to reading/commenting on your E & A entries. Living up to Marx's 11th Thesis on Feuerbach is no easy task!
dkj
I know that it won't be easy. (...I think that's one of the minor reasons why I'm doing it! *laughs*)
I've been enrolled on the Baby Steps program. Right now, that's all I feel capable of doing; indeed, one of the first steps _is_ feeling comfortable with this process. (Do, or do not - there is no try. That's my mantra.)
Having been raised with the notion of immediate gratification makes the process of change even harder. The knowledge that this will, literally, take years is daunting.
Methinks that immediate gratification is also another reason why people are not willing to change. That stuff is supposed to happen NOW, if not yesterday...
This is not say that the notion is a genuine reason; arguably, it's a weak excuse. However, when you've been raised, inundated and endoctrinated even, the excuse seems to _become_ a reason. (Almost a mountain out of a mole-hill...)
To a certain extent, I feel boastful in proclaiming this journey. It seems like the kind of thing that you don't announce, you just do.
However, 'tis not a proclamation to the world. It's the necessity for me to physically type it out, to see it... to make it (the idea, the beginning of this journey) real.
Hence: Intangible made Tangible. :)
~tes
The longer something takes to accomplish, the greater the potential gratification.
It's hard to change opinions right away. Especially when you grew up around it and lived with it for most of your life. As long as you are thinking and understanding then there is a chance that you have somthing started and all you have to do is follow your thoughts and your heart. Like what David Johnson said "The longer it takes to accomplish, the greater the potential gratification.
But opinions have to based on something... even if it's twisted logic -- that at least gives us something to work with, something to un-twist.
Methinks that, rather than the opinions being hard to change, it's the habit that becomes infinitely difficult.
I _know_ that smoking cigarettes is bad for me. (I can feel it going to class!) So while that knowledge changes my opinion, it does not change the habit.
And no one but me can change habits... no matter how many facts are laid out in front of me. (Which, based on my actions, makes me a hypocrite.)
((Maybe the answer then is to (somehow) add more shame into the idea of being a hypocrite? ...although, that is arguably an outside force, which does not necessarily guarentee that the inward mentality has been successfully changed...))
'Tis a doosey all the way around, to be sure. (Doesn't mean that we should give up on it though!)
Critical thinking theorists often describe the best intellectual practices as partly habitual (after a bit of practice). That is, we can form a habit of acting in concert with our own best recommendations, erasing the hypocritical gap.
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