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?

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).

The Importance of Early Childhood Memories

What are your earliest childhood memories? How many stories can you tell about events in your life that happened before you reached the age of four?  New research shows that people who can recall these events from early childhood are generally more psychologically healthy as adults.  So what factors determine an individual's ability to recall these early events in their life? Read this article to find out more on this research and then share your thoughts below.  How well can you recall early memories from your childhood and to what do you attribute your ability to do so (or lack thereof)? What are these memories about and why do you think you can still recall them after all these years? Do the findings from this research hold true for you and your ability (or inability) to recall these early memories today?

The Next Big Thing

History is full of examples of new technological innovations and the resulting impact that they had on human society.  Sociologist Gerhard Lenski has referred to this process of societal change, resulting from the acquisition of new technology, as sociocultural evolution.  Historically speaking, some new inventions have had more of an impact on society than others; some have ushered in changes so great that it eventually led to an entirely new type of society being born (for example, the computer ushered in the post-industrial or information society).  As we begin our unit on Industrialization, I ask you to speculate . . . what will be "The Next Big Thing"?  What new technology will have the biggest impact on our society and usher in the next phase of sociocultural evolution?

The Media's Portrayal of Schizophrenia and How it Affects the General Public's Understanding of this Condition

Watch this video and then respond to the following questions.  What do you know about schizophrenia and how did you learn it?  What did you know about, or what was your understanding of, schizophrenia before enrolling in this course? In your experience, how is schizophrenia (and mental illness in general) portrayed in the mainstream media?  What misconceptions or stereotypes do you believe exist in the minds of the average American in regards to schizophrenia and what role has the media played in developing or perpetuating these misconceptions?  How should we, as a society, go about deconstructing the myths surrounding this disorder?

Rethinking Education for the Modern World

When we look at today's education system, whether it be high school or higher education, we see a system that in many ways has not changed in any substantive way from the education that individuals received 100 years ago.  Sure, efforts are being made to integrate technology into the classroom experience but it often ends up feeling forced, like technology for the sake of technology instead of technology for the sake of education (e.g. writing notes on a SmartBoard instead of a chalkboard).  How should education evolve to meet the needs of a 21st Century society and, more importantly, of the 21st Century student?  Watch this video (oh, this one  and this one too!) and then think about how you would build a university or high school for the modern age if you could start from scratch. What tried and true methods still work in education and which ones need to evolve to stay relevant in the modern age?  Can technology be used in the classroom in meaningful ways (what are your personal experiences with technology in the classroom)?  How do we make meaningful changes to enhance what we already do well in education without "throwing the baby out with the bathwater"?  Do traditional methods still provide any useful experiences or help students develop useful skills that they will need in today's job market?  Do you feel like the education you are receiving will serve you well in today's technology saturated society?  These are only a few questions that come to mind when considering the ways in which education should evolve to stay relevant in an age of ever increasing technology.

"Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."

One of the most controversial decisions of the 20th Century, or any other century for that matter, was the decision to use the Atomic Bomb on Japanese cities.  President Truman's decision has been scrutinized by scholars, as well it should be.  There are many opposing views on the morality of the decision as well as the military necessity of the bombings, or lack thereof.  Read the sources on the Teaching History page.   You will notice that the essay on this site compares how different history textbooks have presented the bombings in the years since 1945.  How does our textbook's account of the bombings compare to the ones discussed in the essay? Read the other sources presented on this website (listed on the left) and decide where you stand on this historical issue. Do you believe that President Truman made the right decision?  Do you believe that the bombings were immoral or were they necessary to end the war?  Support your position with information from the sources presented.