Analyze and Apply Intellectual Traits: Intellectual Autonomy

HW 5: Analyze and Apply Intellectual Traits: Intellectual Autonomy

Consider the many influences to which you have been exposed in your life (family, culture, peers, teachers, media, personal relationships, etc.). Try to discriminate between those dimensions of your thoughts and behaviors in which you have done the least thinking for yourself and those you have done the most thinking. This can be difficult, because all of us like to think that we think for ourselves! In reality, much of thinking can often be attributed to other people and their own views.

Grading criteria:

• 9 points for the 6 questions (1.5 points for each set of questions).

• 1 point for spellchecked, proofread, readable work.

Provide a brief paragraph for each of the six questions.

Try to honestly analyze some of the beliefs you have come to accept by completing the following statements (In other words, I am looking for instances where you actually challenge something you have been "taught!"):

1. One belief I have been taught by my culture about the way people should behave in groups is. . . That people should always be respectful of each other to a fault and often not saying things because you are afraid it may hurt someone’s feelings or create a conflict in the group.

I have been taught this by (whom?)… Belief systems are generally taught by many people but In my case I have learned this by analyzing behaviors of the people who I feel are most liked by others and since I want to be liked and looked at as a good guy I learned to mimic their behavior.

In analyzing this belief, I do/do not think it is rational because… It is rational if the goal is simply to have people like me, but that goal is not rational. Sure it would be better if people thought well of me, but if they don’t, I shouldn’t lose any sleep over it as long as I am maintaining my core values. The fact of the matter is, the group is not always right and often they demonstrably wrong. I am doing myself, and the group a disservice by not at least bringing my point of view to light.

2. One belief that I have been taught within or about religion is… That I cannot practice Buddhism and Christianity at the same time and that the two are counterintuitive.

I have been taught this by (whom?)… Mostly by preachers and my peers

In analyzing this belief, I do/do not think it is rational because… I was raised in a Christian household but there were certain aspects of Christianity that were not working for me and certain aspects of Buddhism that seemed to be calling me. The more I read on the subject of Buddhism, the more I realized that the Buddha never claimed he was someone to be worshipped and that I could continue to worship as