As our opening page states, Mark
Twain warned that "Whenever you find yourself
on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." It is likely that your parents warned you
"not to follow the crowd," or your school counselors warned you about
"peer pressure." The United States utilizes a
democratic republic form of government, which espouses the "majority
rule" in many instances.
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As our opening page states, Mark
Twain warned that "Whenever you find yourself
on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." It is likely that your parents warned you
"not to follow the crowd," or your school counselors warned you about
"peer pressure."
The United States utilizes a
democratic republic form of government, which espouses the "majority
rule" in many instances. For example, when passing laws, Congress and
state Legislators use majority voting. When electing our officials, the
majority rules. But, is our government unethical?
This week's thread will look at two
or three "examples" of majority findings or rules.
We will bring new ones in throughout the week, so be sure to visit back at
least every other day and post your thoughts.
Here is our first one for the week:
The great majority of people seem to find nothing objectionable about the use
of commercials in children's television programming. Yet a distinguished panel
commissioned by the National Science Foundation found reason to disagree. After
reviewing 21 relevant scholarly studies, they concluded:
It is clear from
the available evidence that television advertising does influence
children. Research has demonstrated that children attend to and learn from
commercials, and that advertising is at least moderately successful in creating
positive attitudes toward and the desire for products advertised. The variable
that emerged most clearly across numerous studies as a strong determinant of
children's perception of television advertising is the child's age. Research
clearly establishes that children become more skilled in evaluating television
advertising as they grow older, and that to treat all children from 2 to 12 as
a homogenous group masks important, perhaps crucial differences.
Do you think the majority view is
correct in this case? What difference would it make that a majority thinks this
way?
Do you think the use of commercials in children's television programming raises
any ethical questions? Do explain.
Do you wish to place evidence for what you say before your classmates?
Part B
Personal struggles with one's own
tendencies, desires, lusts, and self-interest have placed people in conflict
with other people and their own communities farther back than any of us can
read. We read about the struggles of others in history -- what about
ourselves? Yes, us! What about our experiences of being ourselves?
When we look back in history, we
find people who are not so different from us -- struggling with their human
nature -- and trying to live ethical lives in whatever way they can do
so. They aspire to live ethical lifes and find themselves failing again
and again.
St. Augustine in the 5th
Century held that although we feel free to make choices in life, our true
nature as human beings includes a persistent disregard for what is good. On
this view, we are sinners whose only hope for redemption lies in the gracious
love of a merciful deity. Whatever I do on my own, Augustine would argue, is
bound to be wrong; whatever I do right, must be performed by God through me.
St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th
Century brought Aristotle’s theories back into “vogue,” soon after St. Augustine’s
death (if 800 years is soon, that is.) He allowed humanity to have a bit
of secularity along with faith, and his ethics allows for a Natural Law which
can be found in the heart of man. Please be sure to listen
to our Saints before working ON this .
So, here we are in the 21st
Century with all the sophistication and technology of the age. Does this
account of human nature fit well with your own experience of human action? That
is, do you observe (in yourself and others) an inclination toward evil instead
of toward good? Bring in examples of scenarios which bolster your
view, or which tend to bring your view (or others) into question.
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