Monday, October 12, 2015

Are We All Born Good?

What is the true nature of humankind? Are we a blank slate (tabula rasa) at birth? Do we have to be socialized to learn what is "right" and "wrong" according to our society or do we have this innate ability programmed into us from the moment we are born? This is a classic debate among observers of the human condition. Great thinkers have offered their views on this essential question throughout recorded history. But what have we learned? Are we any closer to an answer regarding human nature? Can an individual be "born good" or "born bad" or is everything learned through our environment? What could we possibly learn about this from studying infants? Could modern science finally give us a definitive answer? Watch this 60 Minutes report on current research into this question that has been recently conducted in Yale's baby lab. Respond in a comment of at least 300 words that addresses the following:

  • What was your position on this question before watching the video?
  • Did the research discussed in the video change your opinion in any way?
  • Are we born "wired" to be selfish or "wired" to seek justice and have empathy for others (or a little bit of both)?
  • Are nurture and environment the deciding factors that help us develop either our selfish or empathetic and altruistic tendencies?
  • Do you think that this research was scientifically sound?
  • Do you agree with their conclusions?

Monday, September 14, 2015

What if ...?

Have you ever wondered how your life would be different if a significant event in your past had gone differently, or not occurred at all? What about an important decision that you or someone in your life made? What if you, or they, had chosen to act differently in that situation? How would that have changed the course of your life? How might that one change have affected the series of events in your life that followed? What other changes would have occurred as a result of this change? What if you had never met that certain someone? What if your team hadn't lost (or won) that big game? What if you hadn't moved to that new town or school (or had)? If you have asked yourself similar questions, then you have engaged in counterfactual thinking. Read this article and then respond in a comment below. What is your most significant "What if . . ." moment? (Note: Please type your comment in Google Docs first and check it for errors before posting to the blog. It should be at least one page long in Google Docs. If it is too personal and you'd rather not post it on the blog, then share it with me via Google Docs).