December 10th, 2012

12/10/12

In Class:
Journal: The Judeo-Christian model of moral behavior, the Ten Commandments, identifies 10 essential rules of virtue and goodness:
  You shall have no other gods before me.
  You shall not make for yourself an idol.
  You shall not take the Lord's name in vain.
  You shall remember the Sabbath day.
  You shall honor your father and mother.
  You shall not commit adultery.
  You shall not murder.
  You shall not steal.
  You shall not lie.
  You shall not covet.
Which of these standards are enforced by our legal code? Which are enforced by our social mores? Do you consider these ideas to be essential to being a 'good person?'

Discussed social institutions and ideals as constructed.
Defined terms of moral, immoral, and amoral in contrast to good and bad.
Discussion of the construction and human definition of morality; in theory, all events and actions are amoral, but humans attribute morality to those events and actions. "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathon Swift.

Homework:
Catch up on unfinished work.
Finish Part One of The Stranger.