Philosophy
As an utterly inappropriate follow-up to yesterday's post, here's a question from C. Ewing:
- The Value Of Late Assignments
So, I've taken in my classes to having students come to each class with short reaction papers to the day's reading. They have to find a paragraph, quote it, and respond to it. Not only does it make sure they read, but it also means they have to...
- Self-less And Unenlightened?
Guest-post from C.Ewing today (let me repeat my invitation to anyone who stops by the Playground to send me something as a guest post): So, I was thinking the other day (I don't suggest it as a hobby, 'tis rather burdensome), and realized that...
- Iethics
Guest post from C.Ewing today: Let us say that we have a person H. Person H happens to posses a wondrous technological device, which for any given morally pertinent situation will provide the proper steps/actions to resolve the situation/dilemma/problem...
- Another Tipping Question
A question from C. Ewing: Let us assume that you frequent a local establishment at least once, sometimes twice a work week. You tend to get the same waitress fairly frequently since your break coincides with her shift. She's always a quite capable...
- Why I Teach
I generally don't respond to memes, but (1) I was tagged on this one by someone whose blog I love, Dr. Free Ride of Adventures in Ethics and Science and (2) it's an interesting question: "Why do you teach and why is academic freedom critical to...
Philosophy
Tough Love?
As an utterly inappropriate follow-up to yesterday's post, here's a question from C. Ewing:
This is a question that has come up at work periodically. We work with people who (typically) can't help themselves, but when doing any sort of volunteer or charity work there is always the risk of dependency, and the risk of people who are simply trying to abuse the system. The ideal scenario is that we simply get them where they need to be as best we can (the essentials for living), and let them take it from there. But I've had several clients come back to me later on, wanting other help. Now, when it's available I make the effort to give them that help, but I sometimes wonder: am I becoming a handy tool for them to utilize, and in being that tool am I preventing them from developing their own means and independence? Am I hurting more than helping? When is tough love needed/demanded? Is it sometimes best to let people "tough it out", and if so, when? How do you know? Now, sometimes it's obvious that the person doesn't have the financial means for certain things. But there are gray areas where it's not clear they couldn't manage it with effort. How do you know when to let them "sink or swim"?
- The Value Of Late Assignments
So, I've taken in my classes to having students come to each class with short reaction papers to the day's reading. They have to find a paragraph, quote it, and respond to it. Not only does it make sure they read, but it also means they have to...
- Self-less And Unenlightened?
Guest-post from C.Ewing today (let me repeat my invitation to anyone who stops by the Playground to send me something as a guest post): So, I was thinking the other day (I don't suggest it as a hobby, 'tis rather burdensome), and realized that...
- Iethics
Guest post from C.Ewing today: Let us say that we have a person H. Person H happens to posses a wondrous technological device, which for any given morally pertinent situation will provide the proper steps/actions to resolve the situation/dilemma/problem...
- Another Tipping Question
A question from C. Ewing: Let us assume that you frequent a local establishment at least once, sometimes twice a work week. You tend to get the same waitress fairly frequently since your break coincides with her shift. She's always a quite capable...
- Why I Teach
I generally don't respond to memes, but (1) I was tagged on this one by someone whose blog I love, Dr. Free Ride of Adventures in Ethics and Science and (2) it's an interesting question: "Why do you teach and why is academic freedom critical to...