fandomhigh | Philosophy of Values - [class 3

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!!]

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Blair smiled at Dr. Wilson and raised his hand.

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

"Can we agree with both?" Blair asked.

"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?"

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

"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?"

"You're going to compare your genes with the last time your soul walked this earth in another form?" Blair grinned. "Maybe you are affected by not only your current environment but all the past environments and nuturing."

"Why not?" Wilson said with a quick smile. "I happen to put a lot of stock in my genes and what they predispose me towards."

Especially given certain genetic disorders he could carry but that was not the point of this particular discussion so Wilson wasn't going into that can of worms.

"But then I also believe that environment is not without impact and I would imagine that if you believe that you could be impacted not just by the current environment but also by one experienced years, decades, centuries ago...then the equation gets really tricky."

"It's all hypothetical really, since I don't think that either one of us belive that strongly in past lives." Blair grinned. "So you really think the genetics holds the higher percentage in what makes you who you are?"

Wilson's smile grew and he set his feet slightly apart, giving Blair and impish look.

"What makes you say that, Mr. Sandburg?"

Blair tilted his head and rolled his eyes a bit. "Oh yeah, man. I can just see you researching the middle ages so you can discover your past as a court page or jester."

Wilson chuckled. "Actually, I meant your assertation that I think genetics holds the higher pecentage."

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

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