Philosophy of Values - [class 3 - 9/21]

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

After last week’s class, Wilson had been fairly quiet the following week caught up in his own thoughts about the class and a few other events that had come in the form of phone calls he’s never comfortable receiving. So his expression was rather distant and pensive as the class convened.

However, probably due to angelic intervention there was still a pot of tea and a spread of yummy looking pastries for the kids as they came through the door. As with his humor class, next to the pastries was the sign in sheet and then a small box for the turning in of homework. Also there were handouts on the front of the desk with instructions for the students to pick them up.

As soon as everyone was settled, Wilson gave himself a shake and his focus came completely to the class.

Lecture:

“Good morning.” He said softly, standing up and moving around to the front of the desk as was his habit. Touching the pile of paperwork, he gave a nod and then turned to look out at the class.

“Looks like excellent work on your homework, guys. Thank you. Now, today we’re going to tackle one of the oldest philosophical debates in the history of sentient beings. If you all will turn to the handout labeled History.” Pausing to give everyone a chance to get to the page he started up again.

“Nature vs Nurture. Are we all born coded with a specific genetic mapping which will dictate our actions and beliefs through our lives or are we a blank slate, affected only by the environment we are nurtured within? Or is it a bit of both and if so which one is the basic blueprint that the other builds upon? Are we born with genetic predispositions that are then either encouraged or discouraged by our environment or will our environment bring forth potential genetic components we’re born with? If you all will please turn to the second hand out…”

The second handout was the one that Wilson lectured from, laying out the historic arguments for both sides of the debate and showing how and why the debate was still going so strong without either side being shown to be right or wrong.

Class Participation:

“So, for today’s discussion. Many of you were born with gifts compared to other humans in this dimension, while others have been born with inherent magical strengths. Do you feel you’re environment has been altered by the gifts you were born with or do you feel as if you’re environment has affected your gifts?”

Homework:

“Homework this week is to give me your take on the following question. Is a sentient being predisposed to abuse the power they are born with or are they born with pure intentions and in danger of being negatively affected by their environment?”

[ooc: Please wait for the Wee beloved OCD threads are up, have at!!]

Comments

Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

The dreaded participation part of the day. Speak up! You know you don't want me to call on people.

Re: Class Participation

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe took notes during the lecture, but she couldn't keep tears from filling her eyes as she listened. When she read the handouts, she felt even worse.

Re: Class Participation

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair passed a note to Phoebe...by tossing it at her head.

You okay?

Re: Class Participation

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked up and then shook her head.

No. Fight with Cole. A really bad one.

Re: Class Participation

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair turned the paper over and wrote back.

Sorry, Phoebe. Anything I can do?

Re: Class Participation

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe pulled out a fresh piece of paper.

Thanks, Blair. I don't know. I don't even know how it got that bad. I slapped him. I've never even thought of doing that to anyone I love and I feel like the worst human being on the planet right now. I just want to crawl into a dark cave and disappear forver right now.

Re: Class Participation

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair blinked at the paper and looked sadly at Phoebe for a moment before writing back.

You're not the worst human being on the planet. You made a mistake like we all do. Bel will forgive you, you know he will.

Re: Class Participation

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shook her head as tears filled her eyes again.

I don't think he will, Blair. Me telling him that it hurt me when he kissed other people and then telling him if he could do it, I could really made him angry. His whole attitude about it hurt and then I lost my temper... and I've NEVER done that before. You know me. I'm not like that -- especially with him. I think things may be broken between us right now...

Re: Class Participation

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

Willow raised her hand.

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

Wilson nodded towards Willow.

"Yes, Miss Rosenberg?"

Re: Class Participation

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

"Back where I'm from some people - well, not people but beings are genetically predisposed to be the way that they are," Willow said. "Not saying there aren't exceptions to the rule and that that's the be-all end-all or anything. Just saying it provides a control group."

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

"So you believe those people would be exactly the same way they are if they had lived somewhere else? Like, say Fandom?" Wilson asked in a genuinely curious tone, waiting to see what sort of answer Willow would give.

Re: Class Participation

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah," Willow said. "Their natures very clearly push them towards evil. But? There is also the nurture aspect where some are all 'Grrr, argh, punish ye puny mortals' evil and others are more of the not picking their socks up the floor type."

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

Not picking up socks as evil...he'd do well not to let Phale get ahold of that bit of information.

"Okay...so you would feel that even if they were predisposed towards evil, being somewhere different wouldn't have an affect on thier attitude." Wilson gave a nod, being able to see that side of the argument.

"What about the other way around? A person, born 'good' for lack of a better term, could they take on evil traits due to their environment?"

Re: Class Participation

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair smiled at Dr. Wilson and raised his hand.

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

"Yes, Mr. Sandburg?" Wilson called out with a motion towards Blair.

Re: Class Participation

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Can we agree with both?" Blair asked.

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

"You can." Wilson said with a nod. "But do you really believe it's 50/50 even split? If so, do they balance out concurrently or does one lay the foundation for the other?"

Re: Class Participation

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Are there other factors that need to be added into that percentage?" Blair bounced. "Past lives maybe? Or is that an environmental factor?"

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

"Are those factors nature or nurture?" Wilson asked, arms crossed he set his hands on his hips, as he tended to do when he was thinking.

"And how would you define past life? It could be said that our genetic heritage is a sort of past life couldn't it? After all, we inherit traits from our ancestors, passed down generation to generation. Or if we take past life as in a life previously lived and the reincarnation of the spirit, then would you not be affected by the environment that soul lived in at the time?"

Grinning he made a graceful gesture with his hand. "How do you want to define past life?"

Re: Class Participation

[smartestone]

Hermione raises her hand. "I think it depends on the environment. Sometimes witches and wizards born into non-magical families can do things without knowing what it is they're doing. I grew up very normally and yet when I went to school for it, I was able to keep up with everyone else." Of course, she also surpassed them in a lot of ways.

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

Wilson stood there, arms crossed pensively.

"I'm sorry, Miss Granger, could you run through that again. You said it depends upon the environment, yet you gave two examples where it would seem it was a genetic or nature componant that was dominant."

Re: Class Participation

[daemonridden.livejournal.com]

Lyra raised her hand, and waited to be called on.

Re: Class Participation

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

"Yes?" Wilson asked Lyra with a warm smile, nodding in her direction.

Re: Class Participation

[daemonridden.livejournal.com]

"Well, it's environment, isn't it? I mean, if I'd been more like my parents..." she trailed off. "If I'd been raised by either of them, I'd be cruel and hurtful. But I grew up surrounded by kind men."

She thought another minute. "And my gift... It didn't really have anything to do with me. I mean, I'm just the one who needed to have it, and when I wasn't needed anymore, it faded."