This class was the last class of Integrated Skills in this semester. We talked about moral dilemma in small groups again.
In the story, "I" am the network administrator for a rather large company. I have a young family and need my job to support them. As part of my responsibility as a network administrator is to monitor the emails for the organization. This just means occasionally allow through emails for staff members that have been accidentally blocked by the spam filters. One day, a staff member asks me to get release an email. It is standard procedure except this time the request has come from the wife of a very good friend of mine. As a part of the procedure I need to manually open up the email to ensure that it is not spam, so I do and I discover it is not spam. However, I also find that the email has come from her lover. There is no doubt that she has been having an affair for some time now. My initial action is to call my friend and tell him about the email, but I quickly remember that the company policy is very strict about revealing the contents of emails of staff members regardless of the contents and unless some one's life is in immediate danger. What do I do?
I think I'll talk to the wife of a very good friend of mine at first. In addition, I'll explain why I know that she has been having an affair now, and persuade the wife to stop having an affair for my friend. If she won't stop seeing her lover, and what is more tries to expose my unacceptable revealing to my company, it would also lead to make her adultery known to my friend and many other people. I think this is one of answers that do not hurt anyone in this case. However, this answer applies to the case where my friend is really in love with his wife. If the friend does not love his wife anymore, I'll talk the truth to my friend secretly and leave it to his judgement.
2010年2月2日火曜日
2010年1月16日土曜日
Report for Group Discussion #2: Moral Dilemma
This week, we had a discussion about a moral dilemma.
A mad bomber was arrested by police, but the mad man had already planted bombs before the capture. The terrible bomb can kill hundreds of people, and there are little time left. He wants to talk a lawyer and he invokes his constitutional right to remain silent. Then, officials propose putting him to the torture. The officials even suggest torturing his innocent wife in front of him. What do we think about it?
I do not agree to torture the mad bomber. Because the officials would start to torture suspected people. If they put him to the torture in this situation, the torture would become one of the ways to investigate a suspect for granted. Of course, it is important to save hundreds of people who have nothing to do with the mad man from the bombs. However, I think what is more significant is to continue not to violate the right which we achieved through a long history than to solve this immediate-future problem by torture. But we must not abandon hundreds of people without taking any plan. In my group, there are a few ideas about this problem. First, one of group members suggests that the officials practice psychotherapy to the mad bomber. Though it might be effective, a psychological treatment needs a long term. It is not a realistic way in this immediate danger of the bombs. Then, the next idea comes; that is hypnotism. I have heard that some police introduce hypnotism in investing a suspect. By putting the mad bomber under hypnosis, we can get an answer to the question.
I do not agree to torture the mad bomber, because the officials would begin to torture suspects for granted in the near future. We must avoid torturing to keep our rights. Since we can not abandon hundreds of people, I think the officials should introduce hypnotism. So, we can save hundreds of people without torture.
A mad bomber was arrested by police, but the mad man had already planted bombs before the capture. The terrible bomb can kill hundreds of people, and there are little time left. He wants to talk a lawyer and he invokes his constitutional right to remain silent. Then, officials propose putting him to the torture. The officials even suggest torturing his innocent wife in front of him. What do we think about it?
I do not agree to torture the mad bomber. Because the officials would start to torture suspected people. If they put him to the torture in this situation, the torture would become one of the ways to investigate a suspect for granted. Of course, it is important to save hundreds of people who have nothing to do with the mad man from the bombs. However, I think what is more significant is to continue not to violate the right which we achieved through a long history than to solve this immediate-future problem by torture. But we must not abandon hundreds of people without taking any plan. In my group, there are a few ideas about this problem. First, one of group members suggests that the officials practice psychotherapy to the mad bomber. Though it might be effective, a psychological treatment needs a long term. It is not a realistic way in this immediate danger of the bombs. Then, the next idea comes; that is hypnotism. I have heard that some police introduce hypnotism in investing a suspect. By putting the mad bomber under hypnosis, we can get an answer to the question.
I do not agree to torture the mad bomber, because the officials would begin to torture suspects for granted in the near future. We must avoid torturing to keep our rights. Since we can not abandon hundreds of people, I think the officials should introduce hypnotism. So, we can save hundreds of people without torture.
Report #8: Good Discussion
At today’s discussion, we talked about “Good Discussion”. Since this was the final discussion among class, I would like to have discussed it earlier. However, today’s discussion gives me something important in discussion. So, I want to summarize them up.
First of all, we talked about what we should do for making a good discussion. One said that she think leading to a consensus is the most important. However, others insisted that they think audience’s opinions are the most important than reaching a consensus. They also stated that a consensus presents at the same time as opinions. So, opinions lead a consensus. Then, the opinions need to be good opinions. The good opinions have reason, basis, and source. Every audience and panel members have their own opinions, and they want to keep their opinions straight. If the discussion is under no time restriction, we might discuss deeply and reach a good consensus. But, such case is unusual. So, what is important is that we should recognize the limited time. Then, the best opinions will strongly come from audience and panel members.
For the next, we talked about whether all of the audience needs to give their opinions. No opinion means no consensus. One panel said that you do not need to say the idea if it was the same as others’. So, ever audiences say our opinions more in the discussion. However, it is better to say our opinions of our own motive than to be forced to say. In discussion class, students should be evaluated by how they try to take part in it. Every student should try to voice in the discussion.
From today’s discussion, I found several important things in the discussion, and I would like to keep on trying to say my opinion in the discussion without fear of failure.
First of all, we talked about what we should do for making a good discussion. One said that she think leading to a consensus is the most important. However, others insisted that they think audience’s opinions are the most important than reaching a consensus. They also stated that a consensus presents at the same time as opinions. So, opinions lead a consensus. Then, the opinions need to be good opinions. The good opinions have reason, basis, and source. Every audience and panel members have their own opinions, and they want to keep their opinions straight. If the discussion is under no time restriction, we might discuss deeply and reach a good consensus. But, such case is unusual. So, what is important is that we should recognize the limited time. Then, the best opinions will strongly come from audience and panel members.
For the next, we talked about whether all of the audience needs to give their opinions. No opinion means no consensus. One panel said that you do not need to say the idea if it was the same as others’. So, ever audiences say our opinions more in the discussion. However, it is better to say our opinions of our own motive than to be forced to say. In discussion class, students should be evaluated by how they try to take part in it. Every student should try to voice in the discussion.
From today’s discussion, I found several important things in the discussion, and I would like to keep on trying to say my opinion in the discussion without fear of failure.
2009年12月17日木曜日
Report for Group Discussion: Moral Dilemma
Last week, we were divided into some small groups and we discussed one topic "the moral dilemma". In the story, "I" was forced to make a hard choice in a very serious situation. "I" have a wife and an 18-year-old son. When we are at the airport getting ready to head home, a sniffer dog stops at my son's bag and begins to get a bit more active. The armed officer asks "Whose bag is this?" My son looks a little nervous. I know that he has smoked a little marijuana in his time. I see my wife in the corner of my eye and she is about to step forward and claim it as her own. What would I say in this case?
After I read the story, I was in a very hard dilemma. First, I thought that the son should say that the bag was his own. He was 18 years old, so he must answer for the question. But, "I" was his father and her husband. With considering the fact, I cannot easily think the son should take responsibility and do his duty. In the group discussion, there were some kinds of ideas. One of them was that "I don't know." However, this was not a good answer to the question. If the officer checked up the bag, it got clear that the bag was the son's. To make matters worse, the officer might blame me for the lie.
If either of "I" and the wife claim it as theirs, the two would end to be blamed for lying, and the son would suffer from a feeling of guilt. If the son claims it as his own, the parents would feel very sorry and so sad for the son's punishment.
I am still in the hard dilemma.
After I read the story, I was in a very hard dilemma. First, I thought that the son should say that the bag was his own. He was 18 years old, so he must answer for the question. But, "I" was his father and her husband. With considering the fact, I cannot easily think the son should take responsibility and do his duty. In the group discussion, there were some kinds of ideas. One of them was that "I don't know." However, this was not a good answer to the question. If the officer checked up the bag, it got clear that the bag was the son's. To make matters worse, the officer might blame me for the lie.
If either of "I" and the wife claim it as theirs, the two would end to be blamed for lying, and the son would suffer from a feeling of guilt. If the son claims it as his own, the parents would feel very sorry and so sad for the son's punishment.
I am still in the hard dilemma.
2009年11月27日金曜日
Report #7: The Grade Skipping System
Today, we had a discussion about the introduction of the grade skipping system. There are 4 panel members; an elementary school student, a teacher, a Chinese man, Lee who experienced the grade skipping system, and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The moderator gave a suggestion about the introduction of the grade skipping system for elementary and junior high schools in Japan.
First, the teacher took up the lack of communication. She worried about it due to the difference of their age. In fact, Lee did not have a best friend in his class. Then, one idea came up. That is giving students a test of communication skill like other subjects. But, Lee strongly disagreed with the idea because it made no sense. I really agree with Lee. I wonder how we can measure communication skills. I think it is cultivated through our daily lives.
When the discussion lost its heat, Jeff suggested an alternative idea that making a special class for talented students without shifting grade. Instead of introducing the grade skipping system, each of the schools will establish a special class for every grade. In the class, the students can study what they want to learn. I think this idea is better than the introduction of the system. However, I do not agree with it in several points. First, I wonder there are students who are talented enough to skip grade in the same grade. Next, there are too little teachers to teach them. Jeff said that the talented students do not always need learning from teachers, but they need their teacher in charge of the class. And also, it is difficult from an economic viewpoint.
I think there is much room for discussion.
First, the teacher took up the lack of communication. She worried about it due to the difference of their age. In fact, Lee did not have a best friend in his class. Then, one idea came up. That is giving students a test of communication skill like other subjects. But, Lee strongly disagreed with the idea because it made no sense. I really agree with Lee. I wonder how we can measure communication skills. I think it is cultivated through our daily lives.
When the discussion lost its heat, Jeff suggested an alternative idea that making a special class for talented students without shifting grade. Instead of introducing the grade skipping system, each of the schools will establish a special class for every grade. In the class, the students can study what they want to learn. I think this idea is better than the introduction of the system. However, I do not agree with it in several points. First, I wonder there are students who are talented enough to skip grade in the same grade. Next, there are too little teachers to teach them. Jeff said that the talented students do not always need learning from teachers, but they need their teacher in charge of the class. And also, it is difficult from an economic viewpoint.
I think there is much room for discussion.
2009年11月26日木曜日
Report #6: Daylight saving time
Last week, I had a discussion about introduction of daylight saving time in Japan. As you know, several other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia, have already introduced this system. These countries decided to introduce this daylight saving time due to several merits. First of all, we can get back home 1 hour earlier. This means we can go home before dark, and it leads less traffic accidents and more safety of children. Secondly, it has something good to do with saving energy. In this system, we get up 1 hour earlier with the sun. So, we have another hour of sunlight until setting the sun. Since the hours of sunshine are longer, we can save energy like electric lights and so on.
Although the system has several good merits, it has some demerits at the same time. On the negative side, we need to change all clocks for the system. It is sure that there will be something wrong then. In addition, I have heard that it costs 100.000.000.000 yen to introduce the system in Japan. Next, it will give some damage to our life. We have biological clocks, and it is connected with our life styles. Under this system, our body clocks might get wrong. Then, it does harm to our health, and some students complain of sleepiness in class. There are many problems to be solved before the introduction.
In this discussion, I would like to agree with one idea. That is we do not introduce the system but we move up only time by 1 hour during summer. I mean we change only starting time of everything. Now our first period in this university begins 8:40. We move the starting time up for 7:40. I think it is easy to adapt and to reset the body clocks with starting it on Sunday midnight.
Although the system has several good merits, it has some demerits at the same time. On the negative side, we need to change all clocks for the system. It is sure that there will be something wrong then. In addition, I have heard that it costs 100.000.000.000 yen to introduce the system in Japan. Next, it will give some damage to our life. We have biological clocks, and it is connected with our life styles. Under this system, our body clocks might get wrong. Then, it does harm to our health, and some students complain of sleepiness in class. There are many problems to be solved before the introduction.
In this discussion, I would like to agree with one idea. That is we do not introduce the system but we move up only time by 1 hour during summer. I mean we change only starting time of everything. Now our first period in this university begins 8:40. We move the starting time up for 7:40. I think it is easy to adapt and to reset the body clocks with starting it on Sunday midnight.
Report #5:Medical Bill Free
Today’s topic was “Free Medical Bill for Citizens”. It was difficult to find a consensus in today’s discussion. I was struggling with the topic. First of all, panel members said agree or disagree with the idea. The discussion was conducted, but before deciding whether we introduce the free medical bill or not, the topic was replaced by the next topic of its financial recourses. Then, I thought that we have lost the way to a consensus. As Jeff said, we should pay attention to what the topic is, and we need to get back on the topic before losing the way. So, I would like to write about my opinion about medical bill.
Now in Japan, if you have your insurance card, you can get medical care at the cost of several percent of the total expense. For example, people from students of elementary schools to age of 69 can get medical care at 30 percent of the whole expense. In addition, senior citizens over 70 years old and infants before entering elementary school need to pay 20 percent of the medical cost. I think this is not so high expenses compared with other countries. In addition, there are several subsidies for the poor who can not pay medical expenses. So, I do not agree with making medical bill for free.
Now in Japan, if you have your insurance card, you can get medical care at the cost of several percent of the total expense. For example, people from students of elementary schools to age of 69 can get medical care at 30 percent of the whole expense. In addition, senior citizens over 70 years old and infants before entering elementary school need to pay 20 percent of the medical cost. I think this is not so high expenses compared with other countries. In addition, there are several subsidies for the poor who can not pay medical expenses. So, I do not agree with making medical bill for free.
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