Journal 3-5 Max Bardowell 2-25-08

Technology and the Modern Student

Answer to last week’s question: First, they should go to a resident student advisor within their dorm, and then, if the problem remains unaddressed, work their way to the higher echelons, such as the school counselors. The administration should only be involved in the direst of situations.

This week we discussed the various effects technology has upon our lives. It was spirited, as this is an aspect of society that is very intimate and close at hand to students, thus capturing our attention more than other ethical dilemmas that are more distant, dealing in philosophical values only apparent to those that deal with international diplomacy and crises.

We answered first how we divided our time between different resources available on the internet, including social networks, games, music and videos, and simply surfing for information. My groups’ time was dominated by social networks and music downloading, however, if I had to create a list, it would look like this:

I know this may seem like a disproportionate amount of homework time, but I try to do most things on the computer, and this is also a reflection of how dependant our educational system is on the internet and computers. I really have no choice. I simply need the vast amounts of information available on the internet to do most of my work, and many of the assignments some of my more environmentally conscious teachers are given on the paperless formats of the digital world. It is not only more convenient and paper saving, but simply easier for our generation to acquire, as we have been raised in front of an LCD screen. We are used to digital formats, and thus, this new style of teaching suits us better.

Question: What is the origin of the smart board, a popular and cutting edge teaching tool?

Journal 3-4 Max Bardowell 2-19-08

Conflict With Roommates

Answer to last week's question: The most popular programs are EVE- Essay Verification System, JPlag, and Plagarism.org.

Last week we discussed the complex ethic situations that one encounters when forced into a close proximity with others for a long period of time, mostly due to their inclusion in an academic environment. People tend to amplify the problems generated by these circumstances, and rarely do you find a group of individuals that can live in complete harmony with each other. Thus, many dilemmas can arise from these three main reasons (any others are simply offshoots of these three); first, there is a differing in lifestyles, second there is a difference in culture, and lastly there is a difference in personalities. All of these can be solved with the greatest of diplomatic tools: communication. Unfortunately, this tool is rarely used.

A difference in lifestyles can be anything from having differing sleep patterns to enjoying differing styles of music. This can lead to friction in the areas of priorities for the group, sleep and studying vs. partying and loud music for example. This can easily be solved by creating a schedule or calendar for specified activities.

A difference in culture is a harder potential problem to define, as this issue may not exist in some circumstances. This problem could develop more often when one roommate meets the family of another. Both roommates must take into account the various cultural practices of their fellow compatriots and act accordingly.

Finally, a difference in personalities comes in to play more often than the other two, as this reflects the compatibility of the two roommates. Thus, if two roommates’ personalities react abrasively to each other, you will have conflict, while if two roommates are mostly amicable with each other, then conflict will remain at a minimum. Each roommate must see each other for who they are, and respect the boundaries that would cause conflict. They must tread lightly or conflict will arise.

Question: Where can students go if they have seemingly unsolvable problems with another student?

Journal 3-3 Max Bardowell 2-11-08

Honor Codes

Answer to last week’s question: The quote- “Oh what tangled webs we weave/ When first we practice to deceive,” is from the successful Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott, author of Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, and The Lady of the Lake.

The subject of honor is of particular relevance to students, and, with the rise of improved forms of technology and consequently improved forms of cheating, it is becoming a more valuable commodity and character trait to possess. Schools and academic institutions especially find this trait desirable. Thus, they design a majority of their organization around a defined system of rules and guidelines known as an honor code. These codes are integrated into every level of the college, from the student teacher relationship to relationships involving the board of trustees. Most address the more established and primitive forms of dishonor, such as lying, cheating, stealing, and basic forms of plagiarism. They also address the “condoning” of unethical behavior. However, as time has advanced, many have been forced to amend their codes to include unethical behavior involving computer use. They hope to avoid any potential loopholes that could develop in tandem with the increased number of student forays into the world of internet databases and file-sharing.

This is a far more sophisticated form of cheating. With more students able to pull vast numbers of papers from the internet and from their peers, cheating is becoming harder to track and to prove. Yet, technology also opens doors to the intuitive teachers and professors who wish to match the fervor of their deceptive students. With programs like the ones that their students use to share information, teachers can root out suspected plagiarizers. Using advanced algorithms and word comparison programs, teachers now have the ability to stand on an equal footing. This is a major problem, and one that must be addressed if the sanctity of other’s grades is to be maintained.

Question: What are some of the programs used by teachers to root out plagiarism?

Journal 3-2 Max Bardowell 2-3-08

The Morality of Lying


Answer to Last Week’s Question: The actual text of the Golden Rule, as stated in Matthew 7:12 is, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

In our class discussions this week about the varying levels of friendship and community, we moved one day to the topic of lying, and how the morality of lying can affect a friendship. The first point that spawned the discussion was the idea that some friendships are at a level where it is acceptable, or possibly preferable, to lie to your friends when certain circumstances require it. An example: your friend asks you to come out on a Friday night when you really don’t feel like it. If this was a friendship of the good or even a certain friendship of pleasure, you might feel comfortable enough with that person to honestly tell them how you feel. However, most friendships could be damaged by that lack of involvement, and some friends might be offended by your lack of interest, even if you’re simply tired and you just want to stay at home and watch a movie.

Several ethical theories come into play here, including a priority ranking of your friends, the golden rule, and the greatest good. By ranking your friends, whether consciously or unconsciously and whether through Aristotle’s methodology or otherwise, you put certain values on relationships, and are thus able to distribute your time among them more effectively. You can also, in this situation, whether it is ethical or not (we’ll come to that later), decide which friends you feel you are able to lie to.

The Golden rule initially would tell us that you should lie to no one, as humanities visceral reaction is to be drawn towards the truth. However, when the circumstances of the truth could result in our harm, would we really wish to be told the truth? Now, I’m not saying that your friend stating that he doesn’t want to hang out with you could cause you physical harm, but if you don’t know your friend’s personality intimately, you could be offended by his lack of involvement in your relationship. So, would you want to be lied to?

This relates directly to the greatest good practice. Do the consequences of your friend discovering your lie outweigh the benefits of him not being harmed by your rejection of his offer to hang out? This is really a judgment call. You must judge the solidity of your lie, as well as your friend’s possible reactions to your negative response, and finally any future lies you many have to tell him to maintain your initial lie. All this in the time span between the point he asks you the question and the point when you should have generated an answer.

It’s a tricky business.

I don’t want to say it but I feel that I have to, “Oh what tangled webs we weave/ When first we practice to deceive.” This does ring true in this situation. So remember it. Whatever you decide, good luck.

Question: What is the origin or this quote: “Oh what tangled webs we weave/ When first we practice to deceive.”?

Journal 3-1 Max Bardowell 1-27-08

The Golden Rule

Answer to Last Week Question: There are several organizations that are considered “ethical authorities” in the US. These organizations issue ethical doctrines and statements on relevant issues. They also fund parties in certain legal cases involving relevant issues, as well as operating charities and fundraising organizations. Often they have political affiliations. The two that come to mind are Amnesty International and the Heritage Foundation. Others include the Better Business Bureau, Goodwill Industries, and the United Way.

This week we discussed the various rules society uses to define the differing methods its individuals employ to govern moral and immoral behaviors. The first and most obvious is the Golden Rule, which simply stated is do onto others as you would have them do onto you. We spent the majority of our time focused on this rule. Despite its natural reflection of a perfect Utopian society, there was something that just didn’t sit quite right with us as a class, some flaw that we could not name, and for that reason we put the rule through our intellectual meat grinders to determine whether or not it would be copacetic in human society. What we found surprised us.

Though in theory the Golden Rule seems infallible, there are several fundamental flaws in its wording and practice that make several revisions necessary. First, the rule does not address differing standards of treatment. If one party in the Golden Rule relationship has lower standards of treatment than the other party, should the second party recognize those standards? Second, many can interpret the basic kindness expressed by someone’s devotion to the Golden Rule as a weakness, and exploit that kindness for their own means. Humanity can be too wicked to embrace the elegant idealism within the rule. Our own self-absorption and self-interest conflict with the selflessness laced within the rule. This leads to the third flaw; the rule is simply cannot be practically implemented in human society. Not due to its philosophical and ethical implications, but due to several fundamental flaws within the way humanity reacts and relates with itself.

Perhaps society can embrace a refined form of the Golden Rule, such as the Brazen Rule or the Silver Rule, but even these have flaws. Ultimately we will find that we cannot live by one simple rule. We cannot sum up the breadth of our moral conscious in a single line of text. We must combine rules and create hybrids of rules if we are to forge a lasting ethical guide. Humanity is far too complex to be governed by a single rule, or any rule for that matter.

Question: What is the actual text of the Golden Rule, as stated in the New Testament?

Journal 2-9 Max Bardowell 1-20-08

Principles of Ethics and You

Answer to Last Week’s Question: These results are from the Poll of Pollsters website, a ranking of national newspaper polls based on the accuracy of their past predictions. The top ten are:

1. Des Moines Register
2. ABC News/ Washington Post
3. Pew Research Center/ Associated Press
4. CBS News/ New York Times
5. Mason- Dixon Polling Firm/ MSNBC/ The McClatchy Company

Greatest Good

The greatest good is the notion that a single action that results in some negative consequences can be justified because it impacts more people in a positive manner than it does in a negative manner. It a much debated idea and the justification for the decision largely depends on the circumstances surrounding the decision itself.

Equal Respect and the Golden Rule

This ideal is a fluid concept and has been translated through many cultural and geographic boundaries. It is the belief that everyone deserves to be treated in the manner in which they themselves would wish to be treated, assuming that they would wish to be treated in a positive manner.

Relationships

A relationship is any interaction, small or large, between two individuals. Enduring or potent relationships between two individuals tend to have more of an impact on the two parties than more fleeting interactions.

Community

A community is a grouping of individuals, whether defined by a geographic location or shared relationships or values, who live and work within a certain proximity. Sometimes they work together for a common goal, but most of the time the individuals simply coexist within their environment, pursuing unilateral goals isolated or independent from the rest of the community.

Character Growth

Character Growth is the maturing of an individual’s ethics or values over a defined period of time. Often these morals become concentrated, reflecting the individuals upbringing, education, or group membership.

Question: What national organizations are considered “ethical authorities?”

Journal 2-8 Max Bardowell 1-13-08

Answer to Last Week’s Question: The Top Five Film Schools in the World (in no particular order):

University of California
University of Southern California
California Institute of Technology
New York University
American Film Institute

One major difference I noted between the two youtube debates this campaign season was the bitterness between the Republican candidates and the seemingly united front the Democrats have shown. While each candidate competes with each other individually, the democratic campaign collectively can be compared to an insurrection of sorts, with the party out of power “rebelling” against the party in power. There is a certain loyalty that comes with being a member of the party out of power. There is a unity of cause and spirit that allows them a distinct camaraderie, separating them from the republican candidates they oppose. They are a loose alliance of sorts. A band of competing individuals united under a common ideal. Thus, they can campaign against each other while still remaining focused in their ultimate goal; the deposition of the Republican Party’s control over the presidency. Each is loyal to their cause. It is a noble aspect of American politics

However, the republicans show a less honorable side of the political spectrum. They bicker and brawl, and attack the character of the men around them, not the ideologies they follow. They scramble for any scrap of a lead they can maintain, desperate to hold onto their party’s claim to the presidential office. Like the threatened monarchies of Victorian era, recoiling from the spread of democracy, the republicans squabble amongst themselves as they try to maintain power. To the public though, they only seem weak. Divided. Unsure. But, they are not to fault. If the democrats were the former office holders they would be behaving in the same manner. But they are not, and thus give the impression that they are the stronger party, resolved in their quest to assume power. That is why I will make a prediction today that it will be a democratic candidate that will win this election, for better or worse, and the republicans will not maintain power in the oval office. But who knows? In the end, you will decide.

Question: What is the most respected national campaign poll?