CRITICAL THINKIG JOURNAL REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT: BY RORI BROWN (5004619)
CRITICAL POINT #05:
IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PARTICULAR ACTION IS HOLY, MUST ONE FIRST UNDERSTAND THE GENERAL IDEA OF HOLINESS? PART 1) ARGUMENT IN ESSAY FORMAT
Introduction
As society, we tend to think that we have a full understanding of what is right and wrong based on our ethical beliefs, attitudes and behaviours. This raises the question, is that the definition of holiness? Many would agree that being holy represents acting and being morally good. However, many of us have our own interpretations on what is just and moral. Socrates, a Greek Athenian philosopher states that “we must have an understanding of the essence of holiness in order to claim that any particular action, in fact, is holy.” I fully agree with Socrates because (1) our reasoning on what we think we know may trigger unjust actions, and (2) our beliefs and understanding on holiness are typically based on insufficient evidence that may cause humanity to deceive itself about itself.
Supporting Point 1
In order to establish whether a particular action is holy, we must first know what the essence of holiness is. Holiness means: uniqueness, belonging to God and living with God. It is stated that our reasons on what we think we know as being holy may trigger unjust actions such as persecution, prosecution and perhaps execution such as capital punishment and war. This is why Socrates is encouraging us to examine ourselves, our conceptions, our prejudices, our assumptions, our understanding and our lack of understanding of our moral values in which we live in instead of acting in ignorance of what is right and wrong.
Supporting Point 2
Secondly, it is proven that what we believe to be ethical and holy is based on either: religion, politics or on our own upbringing. We as a whole need to critically think about what we believe in instead of making it just a claim based on what has passed down onto us. Beliefs are generally transmitted from one generation to another, therefore will determine the future; this is why fully examining and collecting evidence on our values and beliefs is crucial – it will empower humanity and civilization.
CRITICAL POINT #05:
IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PARTICULAR ACTION IS HOLY, MUST ONE FIRST UNDERSTAND THE GENERAL IDEA OF HOLINESS?
PART 2) ARGUMENT IN LOGIC ARGUMENT
Premise 1: Holiness plays no part in interpretations on what is just unless (a) our beliefs trigger unjust actions or (b) our beliefs are based on insufficient evidence.
Premise 2: It is false to think that our beliefs trigger unjust actions.
Premise 3: It is false to think that our beliefs are based on insufficient evidence
Conclusion: Therefore, holiness plays no part in interpretations on what is just
EXAMINING YOUR AGRUMENT
I. Do the premises support the conclusion? (Necessary? Strong?) Briefly explain.
Yes. I believe that both premises strongly
