1. Give examples of
Martin Luther King, Jr., the Philosophic Activist.
Martin
Luther King Jr. was a man who definitely practiced what he preached, which is a
common unit of measure for philosophers.
He declared a movement of non-violent resistance that provoked others
into defying the cultural norm at the time by deliberately obstructing current
social mores, as with the sit-ins, bus boycotts, and marches. He philosophized that “… in the long run of
history, immoral destructive means cannot bring about moral and constructive
means.” (page 528) He challenged followers to evaluate their current standing
in our society, and to challenge the injustice of certain regulations such as
“separate but equal.” By stating that “we who engage in nonviolent direct
action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the
hidden tension that is already alive,” he likened his position as a leader and
a thinker, similar to that of Socrates.
2. When public
philosophers also "practice what they preach," they function much
like sages or prophets in their capacity to provoke individual self-assessment
and collective consciousness raising. Do
you agree with: the need for persons, with such a role in our society? Explain.
I
definitely agree that, even in our modern society, people still need spiritual,
intellectual, and moral guidance from others.
We look to religious and political leaders for our own personal moral
decisions, on a wide array of topics, ranging from how to live a moral life,
how to love our neighbors, and how to function in a free society. If a leader transcends the limits of their
position, such as what Martin Luther King, Jr. did, we find ourselves with
leadership that helps us transform not just our own lives but those of our
neighbors. I personally have followed
religious leaders and speakers outside of my own faith, outside of my own
political party, and outside of my world, that have helped me to be a better
citizen in this world.
3. Discuss Peter
Singer's claim that we are somehow obligated to give all "surplus" or
"unnecessary" income to charity. Note how Singer's utilitarian
reasoning confirms Judeo-Christian teachings regarding feeding the hungry and
otherwise actively aiding the disadvantaged (“Golden Rule”). Comment on the
apparent inconsistencies between: what many of us profess to believe and our
actual behavior when it comes to helping others.
I am a
hypocrite. I believe firmly in helping
others but have struggled with giving to charity myself. I have done many great “good Samaritan” deeds
but am constantly wracked with guilt at not doing more. Even though I know logically that I am doing
what I can, sometimes it’s a challenge to look at someone in the eyes when that
person is standing at a busy intersection with a cardboard sign, asking for a
little compassion and help. When I have
spare change, I try to give it, but I know it’s not coming easily from my hands
to theirs, and I know there are a number of other ways in which I can help out
my fellow man. But I’m full of
excuses. In that way, I am a
hypocrite. I think most of America is
composed of hypocrites: people who profess the need to help yet do nothing to
help anyone but themselves. I think it’s
a sign of complacency in our culture, the vicious lie that people who seek
spare change are somehow unworthy of humanity or basic compassion. I know many people who preach that we should
care for others and then do nothing to help.
We see videos all the time of well-to-do people walking by homeless
children on the street, treating them as a blight on an otherwise perfect
world. We hear politicians preach about
caring for military members and then voting to reduce their pay, cut their
benefits, and gouge the Veterans Administration of much needed federal dollars
to keep their doors open. I still have
hope for the world though. I still have
hope for myself. I don’t quite know what
it will take to become a person who practices what I preach, but I know that I
am an imperfect person. I know that
others are imperfect people. And my hope
is that one day, we will all be able to unite for the betterment of society.
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Grade: 5/5
Professor Comments: Thank you for taking time to reflect on these questions from the end of the textbook. Keep the questions in mind as you continue to "examine your life" -- one of the primary goals of the study of philosophy.
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