Phil 230e - Ethics My Personal Reflection

Viktoriia Kolisnyk

PHIL 230E

02/09/2017

Reflection 1

1. I learnt a lot of information regarding utilitarianism. I made myself familiar with how Mary Midgley, David Wallace, John Mill, Peter Singer, and Bernard Williams viewed utilitarianism, what kind of arguments they were able to present. I was surprised when Mary Midgley described philosophy as a plumbing system. I thought it might have been one of the best analogies one could have come up with. I enjoyed reading This is Water by Wallace. I realized the importance of being aware of our “default settings” some time ago, that’s why I experienced the piece as significantly relatable.

There is a part of material I’ve learnt I agree with, but I also disagree with some parts of it. I would not say my beliefs have changed, I will say the way I perceive philosophical discussions has evolved. There is no absolute when it comes to ethics, I realized. I learnt how to appreciate various points of views, and let go the desire to always be the one whose word is on top. I started enjoying the flow of the discussion in our ethics class. When my opinion is formed, I try to find a way to support it with good arguments, while being open to approaches others may present.

1. I become better at perceiving all relevant factors, evaluating and analyzing the problem. I enjoy looking for pros and cons. I am not as focused on just one side of the coin, but am putting an effort in seeing the big picture. The ability to not look at the idea or theory from the perspective whether it is right or wrong, but identify how I can benefit from it and apply these new ideas to the real life is a great skill I am experiencing growth in.
2. The notes I had contained valuable information. I wrote down main ideas during class discussion and it helped to keep me on track while preparing for the exam. I was also going through the assigned articles and recalling our group discussion, the type of situations we talked about, and the positive and negative aspects of the issues. I was also thinking about what my arguments were and what I would write on the exam if given related situations or/and questions. I have also read a few summaries of the assigned articles, it drastically improves solving the puzzle which leads to a better understanding of the work and its ideas.
3. I think I should do a better job examining the summaries of the works I am going to study. The close examination really makes the pieces stick together, and not to get lost in the weeds. Abstract things are more challenging to grasp, that’s why reading the material that is capable of sorting it out is definitely what I need to do next time.
4. My beliefs have not significantly changed. I already apply some of the concepts and ideas we have learnt in the class. I have started paying more attention to what kind of actions people perform, what reasons they may have, how they justify the way they choose to act.  I’ve noticed I am growing spiritually and am very excited to learn more about ethical issues, concepts, and ideas.

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