The three statements we discussed revolved around the same issue (which I borrowed from Steven Pinker's The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature) - when we're born, how do we learn?
Statement #1 - The Blank Slate concept is still influential today - fairly divided the classes. The BS idea influenced policies in education and politics today as students mentioned regardless of whether the concept was valid, but in 3rd hour wondered how DNA fit into the whole scheme. Some of you asked - to knock the concept down - how do babies know how to roll over or lift their heads? How do they know how to suck right away? How could they have learned those skills if they've never had any interaction w/ other babies? Babies are constant learning machines, but are they truly blank slates?
Statement #2 - Mankind is basically good but society corrupts him/her - this one was a lot tougher to decide upon b/c students could agree w/ part of the statement but disagree with another part. It seemed that a group of people ended up in the "I Don't Know" category. This concept has been influenced by the discovery of the New World and the comparison of the Native Americans to Europeans. The Europeans, in their conceit, couldn't understand how the Native Americans seemed to live in relative peace and harmony (compared to the Europeans and their religious wars), and many philosophers and writers felt that it was a lack of civilization, society or religion that kept the Native Americans conflict-free. Pinker states that this concept is called the Noble Savage. Mankind is good, but that society or complex structures and forms, according to Jean Jacques Rousseau, are what finally corrupt mankind.
- However, many of you were focused on the romanticized version of sociopaths (Dexter, Hannibal Lector) when discussing good or bad. Do our actions make us bad or are there just bad people? Is selfishness bad? What about self preservation? In many ways, the phrase, "the apple doesn't fall from the tree" could apply - we follow our parents' lead when we're young until we actually forge our own value unique system.
Statement #3 - When we die, our essence or soul leaves our body - this divided the class like the 2nd statement, because some weren't sure whether or not we had a soul and wanted proof. Also, we discussed what was someone's essence? A memory held after the person was gone? His/her impact on others? Are we just renting our skin and bones while we're here (thanks, Switchfoot!)? Some classmates mentioned the impact of ghost-like experiences as well as religion that have helped them through this difficult question. Are we just worm food when we die or is there something more? - Pinker's concept here is called "ghost in the machine" after Gilbert Ryle's ideas about the mind and how Descartes approached mind / body dualism.
Pick one or more of these statements to add to the discussion. Your answer is due by Thursday, October 27th before class begins. Minimum of 250 words.
Steven Pinker's website: http://stevenpinker.com/
