Just Write the Damn Thing

Just Write the Damn Thing Joe and I scampered through the old Madrid cobblestone streets, dodging puddles and party recruiters, having no choice but to embrace the rain. I lived in the center of the city four years ago with Joe ´s older brother, Ben. This night was Joe ´s first in the Spanish capital. After a few street beers and too many patatas bravas, we settled under a bus stop to escape the unusually heavy Iberian rain. Never having spent time alone with Joe, we spoke open and honestly most of the night, as if my connection with Ben extended to his brother before me. Joe writes. A lot. Joe writes for multiple sites based in London, where he studies abroad. At home in the states, Joe writes papers for his classes and for his friends at his large state university. He shared the intricacies of Germany ´s transition from WWI to WWII as if he was there himself. Turns out he has written three papers for that class, a class he does not attend. At our bus stop in Madrid ´s Sol plaza, thousands of miles from the students Joe may be hurting As conversation turned from life abroad and Joe ´s muddy shoe to his writing adventures, I revealed my fear of putting pen to paper. I have jumped off 50 foot cliffs and squeeze my moped between cars on the streets of my new Andalucian hometown, but my fear of opening my world of ideas to the world of humans around me is one I have not conquered. As Joe interrogated me for reasons, I felt minor embarrassment relaying them. Can a gunslinger who has written at least an article a day for three months understand why I want my 600-word blog entry to be perfect? I feel unworthy. I have a million ideas rattling around in my head and my iPhone notes, but my ideas cannot possibly be worth anybody ´s time. Even scarier, the rough drafts of my ideas remain perfect inside my head and behind my fingerprint passcode. When exposed to a world of readers, they certainly will be misunderstood, right? But what if they ´re not? What if something I write resonates with a stranger from a faraway place or gives joy to a friend from down the street. What if I enjoy sharing myself with people? What if I actually am worthy? Just write the damn thing! Joe says, as if stating the obvious. My old soul was educated So here I am, just writing the damn thing.

Ethical Relativism Essay Sample

Ethical Relativism Essay Sample Ethical Relativism Essay Relativism acknowledges that different points of view are valid in equal measures as individuals differ in their approach to truth. In ethics, relativism stipulates that moral beliefs tend to be relative. Thus, dependent on the individual or society. This theory indicates that there is no universal right or wrong, therefore, morality is subjective rather than objective as illustrated by the ethical objectivism. In light of this, this essay analyzes the two forms of ethical relativism- personal relativism and cultural relativism. Further, it looks at the arguments for and shortcomings of relativism. Morality is relative as different people uphold diverse beliefs on the same. For instance, eating pork is permissible in some societies while others like Islam detest such an act. In essence, morals change with time as per the evolving social norms of particular communities. The subjective relativism or personal ethical relativism attribute morality to individuals’ perception. In this case, a person has sovereignty over own thoughts, actions, and behavior. He/she dictates what is right or wrong. Cultural or conventional ethical relativism is another form of relativism that view morality being dependent on what society dictates to be wrong or right. According to this version, a person acts based on the values and norms of his community. In cultural relativism, a person’s will is subordinate the cultural majority‘s will. Nonetheless, a society’s definition of morality may still differ from another. In both subjective and conventional view, there is no standar d and objective form of morality. Arguments for ethical relativism Tolerance of differences: this is a pluralist position to morality which promotes diversity of opinions. Different cultures or people exhibit diverse moral beliefs that require tolerance as we might not subscribe to them. One’s view should not be superior to another’s point. Relativism bears a diversity of moral views. The differences in views create a complex and unique world with constant change and borrowing of ideas. The commonality in opinions would generate redundant societies. From diversity, innovation and creativity exist. Therefore, subjective moral beliefs occur and not objective moral truths. David Hume (1711-76) postulates that moral beliefs arise from emotions or sentiments and not reason. Situational differences also place different people and communities at divergent levels. Hence, implausible to have common moral principles for all persons. Moreover, ethical values arise from real-life interactions as per the circumstances. Shortcomings Critics of ethical relativism state that moral practices across societies may differ but the fundamental moral principles that underlie such practices should not. For instance, dress codes and local customs differ but aspects such as killing, political repression or torture remain governed by the universal moral standards thus wrong. To some extent, ethical relativism promotes social conformity. For instance, if a society believes that child marriage is morally permissible, a member of such a group must accept such practices as right. It hinders social change and improvement within a society. Diverting from such acts would be termed immoral. Disagreements may constitute objectivity on a view thus not merely the presence of subjectivity. Ethical relativism poses a self-contradictory approach as two mutually exclusive opinions would be both right. In addition, ethical relativism tends to promote outrageous practices like killings, rape or child abuse if they are perceived ‘right’ by standards of the concerned society. Hence, depriving the society the ability to initiate moral objections to counter such social vices. In conclusion, ethical relativism is promoting diversity of moral concepts. However, its relative approach poses several disadvantages calling for the need to uphold objectivity to some moral principles.