Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The presupposition made in setting any essay question is this: the essay question is worthy of reflection. When an essay asks us to discuss the differences between morality, ethics, values and the law we therefore ask: What would make this subject worthy of reflection? It cant be economical benefits- there is hardly any; it could be as a result of a University syllabus, but i think we all can agree that no University worth its salt will cite that as a reason to pose such a question to its students. We need a better reason. I would suggest that this reason is found by reflecting upon the nature of and what it means to be a student.
A student is undeniably defined by the work that preoccupies her- studying. Studying is an accumulation of knowledge and a search for theories. In that search arises an intellectual awe for the genius that preceded our generation and for the magnificence of our past visionaries. Its Freud and Jung for the psychologist; Dworkin and Hart for the lawyer; Beethoven and Mozart for the musician; Da Vinci and Michaelangelo for the artist; Edison and Einstein for the engineer; Aquinas and Aristotle for the seminarian. It is with a hope that we embark upon our readings- a closet shy belief that we could make a difference the way they have.
The student therefore idealizes and idolizes. It is no surprise that we constantly hear about the differences between the studying and the sadly jaded "working world". Subconsciously, we do begin to dream and visualise the way working doesnt allow for. That is why we fight and we debate. But whilst the theories and the debates rages on in our minds, comes a fundamental question: what is right? Phrased in more philosophical terms, the question is, what is true?
Sad to say, this search is quite a disappointing one. The search for truth, leads not so much to the truth per se. Rather, it leads to the love for a search. It leads to a love of history and a love of interpretation. It leads to a love of analysis and a love of dialogue. And as all such loves arises from our lives and its diverse experiences, we inevitably also begin to marvel at creation. With faith, the marvel is turned towards the Creator. A catholic student of psychology, for example, treads on the hard technicalities of the law governing psychologists, and moves into the abstract morality underpinning it, which is influenced by dominant social philosophies. She takes one step back, and marvel at the wonders of human thought and the splendour of a history unfolding and evolving into a present that she is a part of and a future she will have a hand in making. And there, she sees God's hand in the course of human history and God's will set in motion for the future.
In the annals of centuries, philosophers and intellectuals have attended to a question that is now posed to the student: who am I? Grappling this question begins with theories. Theory about human nature and human origin. Theories about human thought. Each student will of course answer that differently. But whatever it is, the point is that we must answer if we do not want to be lukewarm and to be biblically "spat out". The point is that, this question is posed to us individually and incumbent upon each person to answer.
The only justifiable reason for this essay is therefore this: it is necessary for the students themselves to understand on an intellectual and personal level, the meaning of their professions. There is no better way to achieve this than to have them reflect on morality and ethics. They are answering "who am I as a professional"
At philosophy is where both the intellectual and personal converge: the student is asked about theories of morality, being made to read debates about ethics and begin seeing that her own profession will engage such ideas in reality. The doctor knows that the hipprocatic oath is the principle by which his conduct would be regulated by: do no harm. The psychologist knows that confidentiality is the essence of a patient's route to recovery. The lawyer knows that his first duty is to the court. This knowledge is therefore personalised only when there is discussion about what is right and wrong and when one comes to see that professions engage lives in an intimate manner- for some it could literally mean life or death. Where the kiss of the intellect meets the soul of the person is via the path of academia. To put it simply, one must study.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Some time back, I recall distinctly a friend saying with some resignation how he loves his girlfriend but he is just not "in love" with her. What exactly was he talking about? Isn't being in love and loving the same thing?
This question highlights the great influences that our culture have over us. Our culture tells us that what is pleasant is good. It says what feels good must be. Being in love is therefore loving. The only problem here happens to be a huge one. If it is all about feeling good, then the person i am in a relationship with, is actually no different from a prostitute. Yes that sounds extreme. But that, the Pope says, would be what it means if we equate loving with emotions. Just like how a person who visits a brothel intends to use a body for sole pleasure is one who solely desires feeling good from his or her partner.
Consider how this tiny knowledge has impacted you. Has "feeling good" ever become so important you've decided to end a relationship? Is your relationship all about making the other feel good? If so, do you believe that that should be what a relationship is all about?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
So what is love?
When Swee asked that question during combined session a month ago, i looked to Melvyn and said, wow the answer's really long - and we couldn't answer then, neither can we now. The group has since then been holding many discussions on what this sentence may mean:
"attraction is a form of cognition which commits the will, but commits it because it is already committed by it"
Our conclusion: The late Pope John Paul II is a genius.
The following comes from my understanding so far and may not be the exact interpretation of Pope John Paul II's piece - Love and Responsibility.
Do we desire something because it is good? Or is something good because we desire it?
First, we have to understand the underlying sexual urge in each individual - this urge is nothing lustful and is not an instinct, rather it is an orientation in every individual towards certain attributes of a person of the opposite sex. The above question draws a dilemma as to wherein does the "value" or "good" lie? Where is the source of the value, the desire or the object/subject?
The second question is correct - He explains that the sexual urge is much more basic than the psychological and physiological attributes in man and woman. The attributes in another person of the opposite sex have a value of goodness because of our innate sexual urge - because of this orientation that God has placed in us, we identify by nature the goodness in the other person.
Moving on: Attraction, as the late Pope writes it, is definite for each individual - that everyone has a specific set of attributes that they would be attracted to. As our own sexual urge identifies and gives value to the good of the other person, the value in the other person would then be the attribute that attracts us. It acts as a knot tied with two strings.
So when we begin to be attracted to a person, our sexual urge prompts our cognition to "want" that good in the other person. We are in other words, drawn to this attribute that we find in another person, driven to appreciate it and hence be attracted to it. This part would explain why attraction is a form of cognition that commits the will.
This is where the confusing second part of the sentence above comes into play. As I have explained that it is a knot tied with two strings - the sexual urge giving value to the attribute and the attribute in turn becomes the source of attraction. So the second part of "but commits it, because it is already committed by it," is saying that I am attracted to this girl because in the first place, the sexual urge in me had already identified the good and placed the value on her attributes - which in turn attract me. I am already committed to be attracted to these attributes, because my sexual urge is what that gave these attributes its value in my eyes and in my mind.
Ever heard the song 情非得已? Attraction cannot be helped because it roots from our own innate sexual desire. Ever felt that you can't help but feel attracted to someone, do you actually need to exercise your will to decide whether you are attracted to the girl/boy or not? I think this is your answer!
Phew, that took pretty long to craft and I hope my interpretation is right and has helped clear some confusion.
Mark
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Eric Lim had gotten married. His wife subsequently found out that he was a transsexual, with female organs, prior to his surgery. She sought a court judgment declaring the marriage void and won her case. An academic noted that as far as marriage is a form of contract, the use of mistake to get a party out of the contract is viable if the mistake is a fundamental one. That fundamental mistake in this case, the academic noted, goes to the misapprehension of the “totality of the person”. Let us think a little about this.
Is it true that the totality of the person comes down to the organ that he or she possesses? Am I any less a person because I cut my hair? Or how about something more vital- say in donating my kidneys or losing a lung? How about amputating a leg? When does a person, stop being that same person?
If you think the questions are easy, then Thursday evenings should be a breeze and you should come. If you think they are incredibly difficult, then there is even more reason to. So what are we doing on Thursday evenings? In a short discussion of Knowledge, I will seek to show, at least on a conceptual level, what goes on during our meetings.
Knowledge is a vast landscape with unending depths. There is the Science and Arts, Law and Economics, Sociology and Psychology. Where then do we start? More importantly, what do we aim to achieve? Do we skim the surface or plunge into the deep? I would say we incline towards the latter. In fact, we have chosen a spot rather tiny- instead of a whole field of study- we have narrowed it down to one set of readings. We have chosen a strategic landmark to utilize all our tools in. This is the study of Love and Responsibility by Pope John Paul II.
Why such a ‘location’? Because it is utterly relevant. It is about us after all. And it is about sex. Yes, sex is a prevailing and increasingly popular notion. More importantly, our ideas of sex as an act, as a part of who we are, are being shaped by many forces. The Pope’s writings aim to make sense of all these forces. He created a powerful microscope that peers deep within the heart of humanity and anthropology to understand what is good about sex. He’s handed it to us on a silver platter. Of course we’re going to take it.
Knowledge, nevertheless, finds itself welcome only to an environment that seeks. The transformative potential of the study group therefore lives and thrives only on the desire of all to know. Without doubt, this would not be easy. Yet, the secret lies precisely in the obstacles- where we start to listen to another in spite of our obstinacy, begin real dialogue that seeks to know rather than prove wrong, where we are gently but firmly challenged to question the assumptions that we live by- that is where and how we grow.
Knowledge often set itself on quite a high pedestal. Usually, only a paper qualification allows us to ascend. Without crossing the PSLE hurdle, it is hard to talk about A-maths or Chemistry. Speakers without credentials signify talks not worth going for. That is the reality today. This study group is humbled by that fact, but also encouraged by it. This is because we ask not of your certifications, but only of your commitment.
The Study Group takes upon itself, the task of making sense. More importantly, we aim to have fun whilst doing so. In that sense, our aspirations are but simple ones. Its simplicity lies also in the one promise that it makes. And this is the promise- That no one struggling will be left straddling alone. If we rush towards the next reading, to cover a syllabus, then we would be no different from a School. We go to schools to get qualified. We are here to study.
Marcus
Utilitarianism
What does it actually mean?
According to Wikipedia, it is the idea that the moral worth of an action is determined solely by its utility in providing happiness or pleasure as summed among all people;
or more commonly known as "the greatest good for the greatest number of people"
So what did Pope John Paul II think about it?
He said that it actually is the "greatest subjective good for the greatest number of people." After hearing it, Ifelt affirmed. In this world of so much subjectivity, the objective good is somehow always forgotten or brushed aside in the context of utilitarianism. I feel that being a radical Catholic, I lack support for my views and insistence on the objective good, sometimes even from fellow Catholics. The tendency to be "open-minded" just leads people of today's times into seeing things through their subjective lenses. Hence, I feel lonely sometimes standing firmly on my beliefs and increasingly becoming fearful of judgement from the people around me.
Reading a thread on Catholic Answers Forum about how ex-pro life supporters have become pro-choice had left me disappointed once more. It is sad that from the subjective lenses of people's perception of the mother's situation, the life of the unborn can be sacrificed - not even taking into account that the method of abortion is truly cruel.
The opening up of this discussion on Thursday has fuelled my passion for Apologetics once more and also into reading and reflecting more on God's law. Though with our human limitations and the inadequateness of human logic, I pray that we will flourish as a group and really pass on this awareness of wisdom to others.
We are a group of young adults that meets every Thursday to discuss two documents that the late Pope John Paul II had written - Love and Responsibility and the Theology of the Body. Feel free to contact me or Marcus Foo or anyone you know to come and join us! =)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Welcome! Here we share the fruits of our discussion and we pray that you would too, share in our understand of agape love