Group B

Katalina Suliafu
Critical Thinking-Class Group Paper
Philosophy perspectives in Group B were not that hard to discuss. We
understood that there would be disagreements and agreements. Yet, we all
agreed that being open was the best way to pursue the best answers. Were
there real answers? I would respond with a foggy yes. Philosophy brought out
not only questions but the learners thoughts on life and how we saw life
through the eyes of all types of people in different circumstances and stages
in life. The questions given were well open-ended questions that brought out
the best in us all.
We all pretty much agreed and were open to new ideas of question #1.
Do we have any ethical duties regarding what we do with our money? We
agreed that we do not have any duties to what we do with what we earn
financially. I grew up in a home where hard work is very much looked up to.
With the mentality of parents that grew up in an island where you had to
work, work, work, where it was all physical hardships, my parents knew it
was the principle that was learned and not all in the receiving. Receiving help
through physical needs obviously does not teach a principle. It only enables
a person to not work. Now, I do agree with Emma in helping those in need,
because of what she was taught in the home by her father, that if you help
others, you will receive the same in return in the future, but who can say is
needy? What is considered needier than others? Emma does believe in

karma and feels it is our duty in regarding our financial earnings. She agrees
that she would want also the payback in the future or the help when help is
needed. Natalie will agree to some extent because it is true, we do need to
help people. But if we still need to help ourselves first in order to help others,
thats the first priority. I feel as long as you work for the things that you need,
thats fine. For the extra that is earned, the duty is CHOICE. Choice to act,
choice to react, choice to share, choice to receive, etc. There is a security in
choice and that comes with consequences. I personally do give. Maybe not of
my income or my money so much, but my time, my talents, my smile, my
service, my kindness, etc. I think the world needs more of that than money.
Speaking of agreement in society and in our group, question #2 raised
a lot of awareness since we all love meat. Is it unethical to eat meat? We all
agreed that eating meat is not unethical only when eaten in moderation. I
have an uncle that loves meat. Loves all types and the way it is cooked. He
loves the way it smells to the way it tastes mixed with different sides and
spices. This uncle of mine now suffers from gout. The saddest part is that it
limits him to eating as much as he used to now having to deal with clean
eating or not eating meat at all. It surely isnt unethical, because meat is
here for the wealth of the human body. It is needed for the body. It is to help
the body fulfill the physical needs not only to receive strength but also helps
your mind. I do feel that is unethical to eat too much meat. Eating in
moderation is what needs to be practiced more often. Whether it is meats or
other foods, moderation is needed in all things. You cant torture your body

with things because you love it so much, without a break or even a fast. It
helps the body adjust to changes without creating habits or even addictions.
Like my uncle, we all create habits that can limit ourselves to things in life.
Meat being one of the things as the subject, meat can create habits that are
unethical like the killing of animals. Someone had mentioned in class, that
they are vegetarian, yet does not think that eating meat is unethical due to
her limitations of her choice of protein in order to receive that nutrition. As
long as things are moderate in our way of life, creating an unethical habit will
not come to questions or argument. I eat meat and honestly its not a priority
for me to always eat it every day. I enjoy some meats more than others but
yet I dont limit myself to other types of foods. Its what Im able to do in
order to enjoy the potentials of life and my health.
What is truth? Truth is described as a fact, knowledge of something in
actuality. But in society, anything can be truth. What is expected and
accepted to be truth is what matters most. We dont know if the famous
dress on Facebook where everyone was talking about if it was really Blue and
Black or White and Gold. It was how the question was asked and how the
picture was displayed. Truth can only be in a second of being there without
the 3rd person or without the opinion. I know that truth comes from a higher
power. I believe in a higher power. I believe in God. I know that there is a
God. The reason why I know there is a God is because of the things that I
was given. There are things here on this earth that science and human kind
can prove through experiments and gases and chemicals. But one thing I

know that science cannot prove is through the way someone feels.
Happiness and sadness. Tears and a genuine smile. The way my family
makes me feel to falling in love. Truth is in many forms. I believe in God and
that He is real. The creation of the world is my knowledge of this higher
power.
How is good behavior v bad behavior determined? The majority would
think that the persons intentions are what matter because its the drive that
helps you to act. I agree yet I do have the scenario of a mother in the middle
of the railroad and her child watching as a train coming toward her. First
reaction is to run and push the mother out of harms way. Was that the
intention or reaction (action)? My first reaction would be to push my mother
out of the way if the train was 5 seconds away from her because I love my
mother. Now the question is, what is the relationship between the mother
and the child? Now intention may be second on the list. depending on that
factor. I have a friend that did not have the best relationship with her mother
because she was treated differently from her other siblings. She had
commented one day how much she had hated her mother and then the next
few months made a comment on how she hated the way she was treated by
her mother. Now those are two different things. In my defense, the action
matters. Helping a young lady after watching her be attacked, with the
intentions of helping, but because you didnt want to get hurt. Action is much
more needed. Its great that the intention is there, but did you act?

If we do the right action for the wrong reason, is it less moral? I agree
in doing the right thing in general. Yet whether your intentions were for the
wrong reason that is not for society to decide. Intentions are really not seen
unless explained. Intentions are INNER desires, yet acting upon them is what
really matters like I explained previously. I had a friend that offered to help a
woman jump start her car in the parking lot. He was the first out of the group
to offer. Whether we thought it was because he wanted a date was not our
place to determine. Yet after the free service, he came back saying that he
found out that she was married. Whether he was joking about finding out
that fact, was still not our place to determine. Yet he did the right action.
Moral or immoral, he did the right thing. He helped someone.
Are bad actions that are completed with good intentions less moral? I
do not think doing something bad brings out any good. Yet I do believe in
disciplining your children. I was raised on the old whipping when
disrespecting your elders. I do feel that this generation is missing that in this
day and age. I was one day talking back to my older brother in front of my
mother and some guests in our home. My mother had told me many times in
a kind matter to stop talking the way I was to my brother. Yet I did not listen,
so after many lectures, my mother took me to the room in the back and had
hit me so hard across the face with a ladle, all because I would not shut my
mouth. The target was my mouth and no other part of my body. I was taught
that abusing that part of your body would need consequences. My
consequence was receiving a big bruise right across my face. Society would

say abuse; I call it discipline. I abused my privileges and so I paid for them
but I learned from them. You would have to have some kind of lesson through
bad behavior. Thats when good behavior comes around.
What does living the good life consist of? I feel I grew up in a good life.
We werent poor nor were we rich. We were always able to make it whether it
was having the electricity off for 1 week or eating at a table arguing about
who was going to pay for the kids field trip. We struggled yet not so much
that we didnt know what was good. Good life consists of my family still
being alive after returning home from an 18 month LDS mission in another
country. Appreciating my family after never seeing them for so long. The
good life consists of the struggles that you learned from and the memories
that one can look back and say, Those were some good times. Good life
consists of having such a small portion of remembering the struggle and
remembering the bigger picture of what is so good. That is the good life.
What are the qualities of the superior individual? When I think of the
superior individual, I thought of the image of a white man in a suit carrying a
suitcase. The only reason for this was because of my personal experience I
had with an individual that said all the wrong things to me as soon as I
confirmed my major and career pathway in Aviation Science. Questions of
financial needs and dropping out of school were what she saw as soon as I
walked through the door for counsel. Yet I dont know the individual
personally, but first impressions was what came to mind of what qualities is
know as a superior individual. Superior individuals dont always have to be a

positive image either. Superior individuals are only what society makes it. I
had a friend that had gotten married this past year but had her best friend
telling the whole Facebook and social media that the wedding of the
century was coming soon. Now my friend didnt say it was the wedding of
the century nor did she act it. It was what others said about her wedding
and herself. Superiority only comes from the opinions of others. What form
that opinion comes from it can only are displayed for society.
To what extent, if any, does happiness relate to living the good/moral
life? What is happiness to me? Its my family and knowing that they love me
back. Some are unfortunate to have that with their family members. Yet
some are much more fortunate than I am. What is a moral life? What is
considered moral and what is considered good? A good life to me is having a
job, a family, a home, education, and being physically and spiritually stable.
A moral life to most consists of having a good career and married but no
children yet. Having children to them is what limits you and your spouse in
living your life. I feel that having a family helps you live life at its fullest.
Thats what I consider a moral life. Living life to the fullest and fulfilling all of
lifes possibilities.
To what extent, if any, does ones duty to society/other people relate to
living the morally good life? I dont feel that one has any kind of duty to
societys views on the moral life. I dont feel I need to fulfill what society
thinks I need to fulfill in my life. Like I had stated before in #8, I know that
women can do what a man can do. I know a woman can multitask in life. I

know that minorities have ways provided for them to pay for education. I
know things are possible due to the rights that we have in this day and age.
You live the moral life on how you make it. Whether it is through marriage,
having children, getting an education, getting promoted at a job, playing a
sport, etc. The list goes on. Moral living comes with choice. Its what you feel
is good. Do you think you should listen to society to please them or prove
them wrong? One can live proving others wrong their whole lives or at trying
to live it.
In conclusion, the group was able to agree and also agree to disagree
on other questions. Philosophy is not time wasted but opens the minds of all
when open to the idea.