Last week in class we discussed the question "What is Philosophy?" It seemed like a pretty ridiculous question to most of us, but hopefully everyone has put a little more thought into it for this weeks class.
This weeks assignment was to read/listen to "The "Yuk" Factor.
Everyone has natural "Yuk" reactions, whether it is a bad taste in their mouth, or towards an ethical issue. Are these reactions biological or are they derived from society? What are some examples of reactions that have to do with one or the other? Or maybe there are some "Yuk" reactions that involve both our genetic makeup/will to keep our species alive, and also the social aspect.
i think that people just generally think that some things are nasty because of what society tells us and the knowledge we have of that object and what it holds in value to each individual.
ReplyDeletehere's the link to google books
ReplyDeletehttp://books.google.com/books?id=OCnr3IbHfS4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Here's the link to listen to "the Yuk Article"
http://ec.libsyn.com/p/d/0/8/d08e020e560c551e/Julian_Savulescu_on_the_Yuk_Factor.MP3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01cc813fd6c95909b3&c_id=1779585
Link to the free download for Relativism for Monday
ReplyDeletehttp://www.philosophybites.libsyn.com/webpage/simon_blackburn_on_moral_relativism
Apparently we have Sandel on sport and genetic enhancement. Here's the link to listen to that!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/philosophy/sport-and-genetic-enhancement
I really enjoyed last week discussion on the "YUK" factor. It were topics that made me want to squirm and scream "YUCK!" (i.e. Cannibalism), but I had to think why did this topic create an uneasy feeling for me. And I also realized that the "YUK" factor brings out the prejudice in us that we didn't know that was there. And in my opinion, although your "Yuk!" factor is disgusting, it is still wrong to judge one for what they do. Yeah, cannibalism is the most atrocious thing ever, but who am I to say what they are doing is wrong?
ReplyDelete