By this point in your journey, you have accomplished some pretty powerful things. You tried "on for size" some different ways of thinking, about you, about others, about place, and about change, .... and now it's time to breathe a little.
After watching the above video, read the following:
"If you're lucky enough to live without want, it's a natural impulse to help others in need. But, asks philosopher Peter Singer, what's the most effective way to give charitably? He talks through some surprising thought experiments to help you balance emotion and practicality -- and make the biggest impact with whatever you can share.
Sometimes controversial, always practical ethicist Peter Singer stirs public debate about morality, from animal welfare to global poverty.
Peter Singer may be, as The New Yorker calls him, the planet’s “most influential living philosopher.” The Australian academic specializes in applied ethics, to which he takes a secular, utilitarian approach -- minimize suffering, maximize well-being. He gained recognition in the 1970s with his groundbreaking book Animal Liberation: A New Ethics for Our Treatment of Animals, which questions society’s tendency to put human needs above those of members of other species. And he draws fire from critics who object to his fascinating argument in favor of an obligation to help the global poor that sets the bar so high that it means we are almost all living unethically. His defense of euthanasia and infanticide, in some circumstances, has led to protests against his lectures and to teaching position at Princeton.
But Singer’s collective body of work is more acclaimed than controversial. He has written the classic text Practical Ethics and many other books, with more in progress. He lectures at Princeton, where he is professor of bioethics, and the University of Melbourne, where he is a laureate professor. You can find dozens of brief, brilliant essays at Project Syndicate, where Singer examines the philosophical questions surrounding current topics like Obamacare, computer piracy and obesity."
Now it's time for your last prompts.
Responses to this prompt is prior to the next Learning Community meeting time.
Now it's time for your last prompts.
- Prompt One: Having been through this experience, what advice would you offer to next year's Learning Community students who are participating in the Better Place Projects? Be really, really honest here. Pay it Forward. Truly.
- Prompt Two: How has Peter Singer's video impacted your understanding of making your place a better one?
Responses to this prompt is prior to the next Learning Community meeting time.
Jennifer Benesh
ReplyDelete1) My advice is to pick a Better Place Project that you think is the most helpful and don't just choose it because it sounds fun. But it is okay to choose one that will be helpful and fun.
2) This video has impacted my understanding because it has been very inspiring knowing that it is easy to help someone and make their day better. Also, the video proved that you don't have to be rich in order to help others.
Ashley Borghese
ReplyDelete1)make sure you look into the organization you choose to volunteer with so that you know exactly what you're getting into.
2) I now understand how much of a difference it is possible to make on my own.
The advice I would give to the oncoming students would be to keep an open mind on all the projects and videos they will be participating in. I would also recommend not just listen and participate as little as they can but actually think about it and try to take something from it to have an impact on you.
ReplyDeleteThe video reminded me of some thoughts i have already once processed in my own time. I have once thought about the efficiency of charity work and donating to organizations who make the most impact and most use out of the money hey recieve since I am naturally skeptical.
1. Try to have fun with it, it really helps. Don't be a stick in the mud or it will just make things harder to deal with.
ReplyDelete2. That it is a lot easier to give up things in our privileged lives in order to help those that are in poverty or need help more than we do. A lot of people think that it is harder than it really is.
Matt Rensel
ReplyDeleteFor upcoming students next year, my advice would be to give up your time to make a better world for someone else. It can be either someone in this country or other countries, but mostly other countries. Many people don't have the luxury that you may have, in terms of water, electricity, clothes, food, and housing. Do what you can to help them. Donate whatever you can. It can be money, blood, or even just volunteering work. A little bit of help can affect a lot. Peter shared many strong points and ways to make a world a better place. Now he expects us to do something about it.