OPEN DIALOGUE EIGHT: FAMILY VALUES (PARAGRAPH PER QUESTION)
“What do grown children owe their parents? I will contend that the answer is ‘nothing’…The duties of grown children are those of friends and result from love between them and their parents…” –Jane English” –Jane English
Answer the following questions accordance with the Open Dialogue instructions:
1. Your parents gave you up for adoption at a young age, because at the time they had you they were young and had little in the way of financial resources. They thought that your being adopted by well-educated parents with financial security would be in your best interests. Thirty years have passed and by some stroke of fortune your biological parents found you, and one of them needs a kidney and you are the best match. Would you give up a kidney for your biological parent in need? Why or why not?
2. How does English’s contention (see quotation above) compare and contrast with Yutang’s contention that “a natural man loves his children, but a cultured man loves his parents”?
2.1. Apply one of the ethical perspectives from Kant, Mill and Aristotle to the cultural attitudes about a child’s relationship with his or her parents. (Cf.5)
2.2. How would you use your philosophical/ethical reasoning skills to determine what your moral responsibility is, if any, to your biological parents? Would it be different if it were someone not related to you that were in need? How and why?
3. After completing all questions, analyze a classmate’s post and examine if his or her answer is grounded on a philosophical worldview which is grounded in culture. Do culture and a resultant philosophical worldview which influence ethical principles ultimately influence his or her ethical decision?
SELF-EXAMINATION EIGHT: FAMILY VALUES (1 AND 1/2 PAGES FOR THIS SECTION)
Answer the questions.
1. Which of the two readings seemed to resonate more with your own experience or gut feelings – English’s or Yutang’s? Why? There are subtle social/cultural presuppositions that we may be unaware of that influence our ethical decision making. It is philosophy that forces us to question those presuppositions—that is living the examined life, so that we can become aware of what cultural influences and presuppositions are behind our ethical decision making, e.g. on family relationships, the treatment of animals, etc.” Would you agree or disagree with this generalization? Explain your answer fully.
2. Where would you prefer to retire in the U.S. or in Asia based on what you know from the articles about how the elderly are treated in each culture? Use examples and quotations from the articles to support your answer.
3. In what way do you think pop culture television shows like Family Guy, The Simpsons, or South Park either erodes or strengthens family values? Explain your answer.
Mandatory CRITIQUE:(1 AND 1/2 PAGES REQUIRED FOR THIS SECTION)
Each critique must contain:
1. at least one paragraph about the major theme
2. at least one paragraph about new ideas or terms
3. a personal statement concerning your overall reaction to the reading
4. any question(s) that the reading raises in your mind.
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