session 2 readings (and debate questions), 3/6

[Anonymous]

Although I was placed in the daoist camp, I'm more of a mohist myself. daoist to me seemed to make up their philosophy as an excuse to not do anything. The art of doing nothing as one person put it. The mohist hit the nail on the head when they stated man is motivated by self interest and must learn self control or all hell breaks loose. Except neither camp believe in hell. lol

[Anonymous]

I have neither Facebook nor twitter. Does that make me weird or sad?

[Anonymous]

@ehong, thats a great idea. I too can use the four philosophies in my class to compare and contrast the Catholic Social Teachings Cesar Chavez practiced in his fight for justice against injustices that farmworkers suffered in my Mexican American Studies classes.

[Anonymous]

As a Daoist I understand my fathers criminal activity stems from his desires and ambitions. But on the other hand who is to say what is law? Only the Dao can lend to what is the the accurate way. Mans laws are futile attempts and controlling the Dao and bending it to its will. The Dao cannot be described but should be followed, naturally and without compromise. The Dao has no laws, so no laws can be broken. Therefore my father committed no crime and my reaction is null. "The reason I have trouble is that I have a body. When I no longer have a body, what trouble will I have?"

[Anonymous]

You are neither weird nor sad for choosing to not engage in Facebook or Twitter

[Anonymous]

Dear Father,

I will forever faithfully be your child; however I cannot condone nor excuse your criminal ways. Tomorrow the officials will come to arrest you and I will not stand in their way. You have knowingly broken the laws that hold our society together. You have intentionally brought chaos to us, and for that you must be punished. Our system is simple: follow the laws and be rewarded or break the laws and be punished. Punishment must be consistent and harsh, otherwise we will have a lawless society of ruffians perpetrating crimes far worse than yours on a daily basis. I ask you, is this the society you would like your grandchildren to grow up in? No, that is why we must have this system. Though I still feel some pangs of filial piety towards you, father, my loyalty lies forever with the state. Don't worry, I will keep our family farm going should you be incapacitated or die. I will continue our duty to the state and farm to bring wealth to the government, and by extension us. May the law deal justly with you.

Sincerely,
Your child

[Anonymous]

As a Mohist, I believe that if my father was working in accordance with universal love i.e. stealing bread to feed someone who is starving he should be seen as just in his action. Breaking to the law for the benefit of all people is good and just!

[Anonymous]

As a son in a family who follows the teachings of Confucius, it would not be my place to address a crime my father had committed. I would respect his decision, knowing that he must have had a good reason to commit the crime, and that reason may or may not be revealed to me in time. I will trust in the innate goodness of my father and his intentions. When I am a father, I will expect my son to trust my judgement as well, and to respect my position as his father and not question me.

[Anonymous]

• We are what we are, and we will make society better using the best of what we are and can become.
• Our society will be organized with laws that will encourage the best in us - stated in a positive way the helps us to become better. We will have a benevolent ruler, who has a morality that is admirable, something that we can aspire to ourselves. We aim to create universal love - respecting all as if they were our family or friend. The people treat the state with respect it is due, being ethical and just. The state treats us as the guardians of morality, impartially helping to keep the small societies that are more practical safe by sharing our defensive skills in the hostile environments created by greedy larger states. We owe loyalty to all human kind, being partial to anyone particular group or person only creates strife.
• Education includes mathematics and other utilitarian subjects, such as science, analogical argument, ethics, mechanics, engineer, optics and economics. People are taught using persuasion and discussion, using of their own motivation to do what is right. When people are taught, and allowed to discover objective answers to their moral and ethical questions, they will wish to conform to the norms of society.
• People need to be shown how to implement their ideas to benefit society. Being organized and following community norms keeps us from chaos. Universal love and cooperation, removing wasteful rituals and unnecessary endeavors will lead to a more ideal society.

Then again, maybe not so frugal.
edited by canderson on 3/10/2017

[Anonymous]

I had several take aways from this session. The first was that I had never seen a debate in a classroom before and I appreciated seeing one through the lens of the students. I now feel more confident acting as facilitator and I want to try this strategy in my classroom this year, perhaps around a topic like nuclear energy. I enjoyed listening to everyone's views as they were in character during the debate and it helped to solidify the beliefs of the different schools of thought. To answer the scenario regarding my father breaking the law, as a legalist, I must turn my father in. My father knew the law and knowingly broke it. Therefore, he must be punished.

[Anonymous]

Teaching 5th and 6th grade students, I believe I can create a lesson of research and arts by having students research the different schools of teaching (Confucius, Daoist, Legalist, and mohist) to create a informative book describing each school of thought. Students would have an introductory lecture from me. Then, would have to access online materials to gather further information to create their informative guide (pictures, facts, etc.). Hopefully, by the end of this lesson students would be able to express the school of thought that they would be most comfortable abiding by if they had to choose. I took the legalist stand point in the debate. However, I am supportive of Confucius philosophies that gears more towards a compassion for human relationships and expressions as human beings. Hopefully, students will be able to make connections to the school of thought of their liking.

[Anonymous]

Being a legalist it would be my law-abiding duty to turn in any individual that has violated the law. With sadness father I must turn you in. We owe homage to our state and ruler. Those who violate the law must be punished even if it means me turning in my very own flesh and blood. I cannot be an accomplice because I too would be going against the state. I refuse to contribute to the very chaos we are trying to prevent. We cannot coexist in a society where law and order will not be respected. I will not suffer the consequences, but promise to keep up your legacy and hard working ethics alive. With a heavy heart I shall turn you in. The state must prevail and I should continue producing so our state can remain wealthy and powerful.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed partaking in this debate. What I found most valuable was being able to collaborate with my fellow legalist and really internalize my role as a legalist. While other school's of thought seemed to be more balanced law and order was necessary to maintain wealth and power.

[Anonymous]

When I was in high school, I wanted to find a way to explain how things worked, either in my personal life, or the universe. That curiosity led me to want to study ancient philosophy starting with Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. I think they had it right! And their thinking gave me a basis for how the universe works, and it made sense to me. I started to learn about other philosophers from other countries and time periods as well. However, I knew I probably couldn’t sustain a way of life in beautiful Southern California being a philosopher. So, being a Mohist and hearing the other schools of thought brought me back to those times that I really wanted to know what the universe was made of.
Being a Mohist feels natural to me, as it is how I live my life. I do go through the world trying to help others and see others as like my family. I respect my parents and firmly believe to take care of my elders. I do believe that war is not the answer, but a strong defense is. My ancestors in Punjab, India in the 1600’s were very similar to the Mohists. They did not wage war and their martial art (gatka) is all about defensive skills to defend themselves from those that wanted them to convert. Like the Mohists, they were very much into authority (God) and discipline. They also were frugal and lived by the code that is the foundation of our tradition: that there is only one true love (God) and that is universal. Now, I do believe there is a higher power, and I do not believe in the traditional God, but I do believe that higher power is universal love.
edited by hsidhu on 3/17/2017

[Anonymous]

Legalist Perspective
As a legalist, I believe in the concept of rewards and punishment, in addition to working in agriculture to help improve the state. Therefore, if my dad knowingly committed a crime, I would turn him in because of the system of punishment and reward. If he breaks a law, then he will be punished and vice versa. If I don't turn him in then others might think that it is okay to break the law and the system of law and order would crumble.
edited by ahuynh on 3/26/2017

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