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fandomhigh2006-10-05 10:32 am
dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-10-05 10:32 am
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Philosophy of Values: Oct 5th - 3rd period - class #5
The tea and coffee were there today as was a plate of neatly sliced fruits, cheese and chocolates. Wilson is already sitting on the front of the desk, his right arm still bound by the sling against his body and while his expression is a little wan he definitely seems more his old self than he did this time last week.
As soon as the students have had a chance to sign in and take their seats, he gives them a smile and gets started.
Lecture:
“Good morning.”
Sliding down off the desk, Wilson took his own cup of coffee and enjoyed a long sip.
“Okay, I want to remind you all that your first test in this class is next Thursday. It will cover the material up through today’s class and we’ll have a short review before you leave class today. Also, I will not be holding office hours today but will be at my office tomorrow from 8:30am until 10:00am if you need to talk to me.”
That bit of house cleaning done, Wilson finished off his coffee and began to pace.
“Today’s subject is Reason vs Faith and for this example I don’t want you to think of Faith as a religious faith. I want you to think of Faith in the terms of knowing through trust. Now, what does that mean? It means the ability to accept a situation or a concept through trust of self and source vs the need to see and experience for yourself and thus embrace a reasoned response.”
Leaning back against the desk, Wilson gave the class a rueful smile.
“Believe me, it’s hard to separate Faith from the idea of faith in a higher being, you should have seen the struggle I had looking for course material on this subject. Perhaps another way to look at this philosophical debate is to take the ideas of Control vs Acceptance. Let me give you an example.”
Wracking his brain quickly for a story that wouldn’t scar his students, Wilson picked up a bit of pear and bit off one end. By the time he’d swallowed the bite, he gave a nod.
“A patient of a friend of mine, many years ago was a young, single mother of three girls. She was diagnosed with a diseased, which was causing heart failure and she was at a stage where it was terminal. Her girls were ages 14 to 5 and she had no immediate family to care for them. She wasn’t particularly religious and she had very little time to make any sort of plans before she died.
Over the next 24 hours I observed these three sisters, quietly going about their business doing what they were legally allowed to do to help settle their mother’s body, etc. The time came for them to go off with Social Services and I happened to talk to them and remarked upon how well they were doing. The oldest gave me a little smile and said that her mother had always told them to have faith that things happen for a reason, to accept the good and the bad and make the bad work for you in a positive light. So, though they were facing a fairly bleak prospect for the next few years, they were going to try to honor that idea and have faith to accept their situation and make it work for them.”
Pausing, Wilson leaned one hand against the desk and gave his head a light shake.
“Personally? I would have been pissed as hell and mad at everyone. Which, probably would not have been a good plan but, would have made me feel better. I would have wanted the answers, I would have wanted to know the reasons why something so unfair happened to me. In fact, that could be traced to why I went in to oncology.”
Wriggling back up on the desk, he looked out over the class.
Class Participation:
“So, today’s discussion question. Let’s turn this situation around a little. A loved one of yours, parent, lover, sibling, is diagnosed with a terminal illness. But going back to the idea of power, of your gift…you have the power to change their fate but for some reason, they don’t want you to do this. Could you accept their decision? Have faith and trust in them and their choice even though you know it will take them from you? Or would you reason out a logical argument to go against their wishes and keep them with you? Could you have the faith to accept their passing and work a positive path in your life from the tragedy? Or would you rail against the unreasonableness of what happened and find a way to punish or defeat that which took them from you?”
Review for test / homework:
After the discussion was completed Wilson went back over the previous classes, starting with week 1 and then week 2, week 3, and finally week 4.
“This will be an essay type of test, with probably a choice of 2-4 questions asking you to discuss the challenge using what you have heard about and thought about so far in this course. I will be looking for you to support your stance and there will be blue books involved.”
He might have said this last part just to watch Willow and Blair squeak with geekish glee.
[ooc:There are OCD threads around here somewhere, just give me a moment to find them Found them! Class is now in session! :D]
As soon as the students have had a chance to sign in and take their seats, he gives them a smile and gets started.
Lecture:
“Good morning.”
Sliding down off the desk, Wilson took his own cup of coffee and enjoyed a long sip.
“Okay, I want to remind you all that your first test in this class is next Thursday. It will cover the material up through today’s class and we’ll have a short review before you leave class today. Also, I will not be holding office hours today but will be at my office tomorrow from 8:30am until 10:00am if you need to talk to me.”
That bit of house cleaning done, Wilson finished off his coffee and began to pace.
“Today’s subject is Reason vs Faith and for this example I don’t want you to think of Faith as a religious faith. I want you to think of Faith in the terms of knowing through trust. Now, what does that mean? It means the ability to accept a situation or a concept through trust of self and source vs the need to see and experience for yourself and thus embrace a reasoned response.”
Leaning back against the desk, Wilson gave the class a rueful smile.
“Believe me, it’s hard to separate Faith from the idea of faith in a higher being, you should have seen the struggle I had looking for course material on this subject. Perhaps another way to look at this philosophical debate is to take the ideas of Control vs Acceptance. Let me give you an example.”
Wracking his brain quickly for a story that wouldn’t scar his students, Wilson picked up a bit of pear and bit off one end. By the time he’d swallowed the bite, he gave a nod.
“A patient of a friend of mine, many years ago was a young, single mother of three girls. She was diagnosed with a diseased, which was causing heart failure and she was at a stage where it was terminal. Her girls were ages 14 to 5 and she had no immediate family to care for them. She wasn’t particularly religious and she had very little time to make any sort of plans before she died.
Over the next 24 hours I observed these three sisters, quietly going about their business doing what they were legally allowed to do to help settle their mother’s body, etc. The time came for them to go off with Social Services and I happened to talk to them and remarked upon how well they were doing. The oldest gave me a little smile and said that her mother had always told them to have faith that things happen for a reason, to accept the good and the bad and make the bad work for you in a positive light. So, though they were facing a fairly bleak prospect for the next few years, they were going to try to honor that idea and have faith to accept their situation and make it work for them.”
Pausing, Wilson leaned one hand against the desk and gave his head a light shake.
“Personally? I would have been pissed as hell and mad at everyone. Which, probably would not have been a good plan but, would have made me feel better. I would have wanted the answers, I would have wanted to know the reasons why something so unfair happened to me. In fact, that could be traced to why I went in to oncology.”
Wriggling back up on the desk, he looked out over the class.
Class Participation:
“So, today’s discussion question. Let’s turn this situation around a little. A loved one of yours, parent, lover, sibling, is diagnosed with a terminal illness. But going back to the idea of power, of your gift…you have the power to change their fate but for some reason, they don’t want you to do this. Could you accept their decision? Have faith and trust in them and their choice even though you know it will take them from you? Or would you reason out a logical argument to go against their wishes and keep them with you? Could you have the faith to accept their passing and work a positive path in your life from the tragedy? Or would you rail against the unreasonableness of what happened and find a way to punish or defeat that which took them from you?”
Review for test / homework:
After the discussion was completed Wilson went back over the previous classes, starting with week 1 and then week 2, week 3, and finally week 4.
“This will be an essay type of test, with probably a choice of 2-4 questions asking you to discuss the challenge using what you have heard about and thought about so far in this course. I will be looking for you to support your stance and there will be blue books involved.”
He might have said this last part just to watch Willow and Blair squeak with geekish glee.
[ooc: