So, now that you've listened and responded to the GOOD show, it's only fair that you do the same with the BAD show--your second LISTENING. This time, replace the word kindness in each statement with the word cruelty:
1. Cruelty is hard-wired in our brains, a biological imperative that promotes survival.
2. Cruelty is chiefly a product of experience and circumstance, a quality that is found only in some individuals.
Are some people just born bad? Are we all equally capable of cruelty? Is environment more influential in the manifestation of evil than of good? Is your answer the same as it was in Assignment #1?
Once again, respond by clicking the comment link at the bottom of this post, identify yourself and the number of the question you most closely agree with. Use evidence from BOTH shows to support your position.
For your VIEWING assignments, please go to TED.com and watch both The Paradox of Choice and Beware online "filter bubbles." Come to class on Day 3 with two copies of this sheet printed and filled out--one for each Ted talk.
Meanwhile, I will collect the golden lines you have been selecting from Ishmael as you read on the FIRST DAY of class. We will be doing some work with this novel, but probably not until the second week, so you won't need your book with you right away.
Man, you guys, this is going to be fun! I know it's hard to let go of summer and get back to the grind, but this will be a whole new grind! You're going to like it!!
