The Last King Of Scotland

                               The Last King of Scotland

The last King of Scotland was a movie that I chose because it proves that not all human beings are selfish or materialistic. Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) was a young Doctor who was from Scotland. Dr. Garrigan traveled to Ugandato work for charity; it was Dr. Garrigan dream to be the physician for the people of Uganda. When he arrived in Uganda, he gave immunization shots to the children of the village and he was very happy to be able to help cure the people of Uganda, however, he befriended the king who convinced Nicholas to be his personal physician. King Amin was a volatile leader who thought that everyone around him was trying to kill him. Dr. Garrigan was blinded by the king’s charm and how the king made it seem as though he was really needed him around the palace. They compared stories and found out that they were from the same country; the king appointed Dr. Garrigan as his #1 advisor (closest advisor). Nicholas helped the king with his abdominal pains which proved to just be a bad case of gas. He also prevented one of the king’s children from dying; by injecting him with a life saving medicine that stopped him from having a very volant seizure. In the end the King decides to have him killed, because he found out that he had an affair with one of his wives. However, I chose this movie because Dr. Nicholas Garrigan showed selfless acts by working for charity, and helping the poor uninsured people of Uganda, without an hidden agenda in mind. His acts prove to me, that not all human being look out only for themselves.

Hobbes VS David Hume

                                        Thomas Hobbes VS David Hume

According to Thomas Hobbes “Humans feel pity for others in distress because they fear the same will happen to themselves”. Hobbes believes that one of the main reasons people help others is because it may “prevent bad things from happening to us”. Hobbes gives an example of humans feeling pity for dolphins caught in gill nets, he believes that the only reason humans cared about the dolphins was because, “They were afraid of the catastrophe that might happen to them.”

 

According to the Scottish philosopher David Hume “Having the virtues of compassion and benevolence is a natural thing”. David Hume believed that compassion is something that comes natural for humans, and it is the thread that thread that holds society together. Hume’s states that “humans are equipped not only with self-love but also with love for others;” He believed that it is our nature to have sympathy for other; and even a person that is generally selfish will feel compassion towards other people. Hume’s is said to be a soft Universalist and that he make Singer’s example claims now seem plausible. Hume genuinely believed that people are naturally altruistic.

I believe that both men had two different views about people; however, they made me think about life in their point of view. I think that Hobbes made a good point when he said that humans do things because it might ward off bad things from happening to them. When Hobbes said that humans look after animals, when there are so many people suffering, let’s me know that all people are not rotten to the core. And on occasions we care about the well-being of other human beings.

Greg Schaefer VS. Peter Singer

                          Greg Schaefer VS. Peter Singer

“The Solution to World Poverty” by Peter Singer published by the NewYork Times Magazine, September 5, 1999, pp.60-63. Peter Singer states that “By his calculations $200 would help a sickly 2- year old transform into a healthy 6 year old offering safe passage through childhood’s most dangerous years”. He gives us two scenario’s one where a retired school teacher chose to help save the life of a 9 year old homeless child, over her TV that she bought with the money that she got for selling him to foreigners. The child was too old to sell so the foreigner decided to kill the boy and sell his organs. Nevertheless the school teacher chose to do the right thing, and goes on a hunt to find the child. The other scenario was about an old man that did not do the moral thing according to Peter singer. He chose to hold on to his antique car that was going to enable him to live comfortable after retirement.

Greg Schaefer Published a rebuttal to Peter Singer’s article. “Singer’s not so-Persuasive Solution to World Poverty”. At first Greg could understand why Peter Singer would make his proposal, he states that “Everyday wealthy American consumers buy big screen TV’s for their bedrooms, $100,000 Mercedes, DVD players to go in their brand new Mercedes, and countless other luxury items.” However, Greg seems to have gotten upset when Peter Singer asked American’s according to Greg Schaefer “To give away every extra cent of their earnings”. He also accused Peter Singer of being a utilitarian.

     I think that both men had a good point in their articles. When Peter Singer made the request for everyone to donate $200, he should have stopped at that request, however, he should have said if you have extra money it would be nice too. Greg Schaefer did not have to write the article the way that he did. I think that he took a good idea and made it into something that was totally uncalled for. I really don’t think that Peter Singer meant it the way that Greg Schaefer took it.

What do I want to know?

1. I wonder about: Why people go to church if they are not going to change.
2. I’m puzzled by: why do people get married if they are always attracted to more than one person.
3. I doubt that: All men are faithful to their wives.
4. I’m sad: That America’s are still racist.
5. I’m angry about: Children are betraying their parents for material things.
6. I’m bothered by: The way Americans are materialistic.
7. I’ve always thought: That sneezing in  your hand was a bad idea.
8. I’m surprised by: The number o divorced people in the Christian sector.
9. I’m interested: In learning how I can make a difference to my family.
10. I wish I could: Win the lottery so that I could get the things that I need.
11. I worry about: My mother and her diabetes.
12. I‘m afraid that: If my husband is gone, It will be very hard for me to complete nursing school.

                                                   What do I want to know?

I’m botherd by the way Americans are materialistic. The English Philosopher Thomas Hobbes a modern materialists; claims that all human beings consists of the attraction and repulsion of physical particles. The western world is overwhelmingly materialistic. This means that not everyone is materialistic, however, most America’s are interested in accumulating riches. Materialism can be thought of as the basic necessities or just plain greed. According to dictionary.com one meaning of materialism is “The theory or attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life”.  I think that materialism is the preoccupation with material objects with no regard to what anyone think. This type of materialism can be dangerous. I’m bothered by this trait because it has been pasted down to our children and it may be the reason that America is in debt.

prewriting 1

1. I believe that people…that all people have a good streak in them.

2. I believe that society has some sense of moral values.

3. I believe that the government tries to impose their moral beliefs on other cultures.

4. I believe that justice generally speaks of view points concerning the relationship between ethnics and the law.

5. I believe that knowledge is something we each have to find for ourselves.

6. I believe that science will help the world find a cure for cancer and AIDS.

7. I believe that reality is something that you can see, touch and feel.

8. I believe the life is the absence of death.

9. I believe that happiness is forgiving everyone for what they have done to you.

10. I believe that goodness are the rules that are morally good in a society.

11. I believe that death is to be free from hurt and pain.

12. I believe that God is real and he truly loves everyone.

                   Are all human beings selfish by nature?

As a human being, I believe that everyone has part of them that either wants to help someone,or has been kind to someone. However, we may choose to be kind at different times our lives.If we think about it, everyone can think of a time when you have done something kind for your parents, grandparents, or your children, and animals. If you cant answer yes to  that statement, I do think that we are all capable of doing something selfless for someone. On September the 11, there were Fire Fighters, Police officers, and total strangers that led thousands of people to saftey from the burning towers. They all showed expressions of selflessness. As being a mother, I exemplify selflessness on a daily basis. Tonight I helped my son wash dishes just to be helpful, when I could have eaten a cold bowl of cereal and went to bed, nevertheless I chose to help him.  There are people who are egoist who believe that everyone is selfish all of the time. An egoist also believes that selfishness is built into our human nature. An egoistist person would say that it is not bad or morally wrong to to be selfish, it is a means of survival. The famous poet Plato had a brother, his name was Glaucon, wants to know if you were to give a decent person and a scoundrel the power to be invisible,the both would abuse th power for personal gain. The decent person would do bad things just as quickly as the scoundrel. He also thinks that the good person wold not be as happy as the  bad person in the end. However, I do not agree with the egoist because these are the opinion of most people. They are putting everyone in one category. Some may say that it is unatural to be good or may even call it naive, nevertheless, I belive everyone does do things with self intent; but just not for self gratification.

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