In class today we talked about how it’s not our opinions who make us who we are, but it’s our choices. This is something that I have had a problem with lately, and I think it is really neat that we ended up talking about it in our philosophy class. Who knew? It is human nature to be judgmental, no matter who you are you are going to judge a person whether you speak it out loud or not. Sometimes I have problems with judging people on their opinions about things; even when I know that I should be respectful about other people’s opinions, I try to go out of the way to end the conversation just so I don’t have to listen anymore because I get so frustrated inside with what they are saying.
When I was listening in class I found that if you truly want to get to know someone, do not base it off of their opinions, but base it off of their stories because it is our choices that matter. It is our choices that shape who we are and what we will become. Needless to say, today was a good day in philosophy class, especially if we get participation points for watching the wasps!
I agree it is important to be aware of the groundless nature of judging character on opinions rather than choices, so I take Bk. 3 CH. 2 to be one of many little gems that can inform one's way of living. Note also that choices are in a way distinct from actions - one should not be judged just on what it looks like they are doing, but rather on what they are choosing. All your teachers may teach, but why are they choosing to teach. What kind of choice is teaching for them? Similarly your cohort are all students, all studying, going to class, etc. but what are they choosing these actions for the sake of? To be liked? TO get ahead? To graduate?
ReplyDeleteIn other words, choice is bound up with that for the sake of which it is chosen in a way that an action, simply considered, is not.