Option A: After watching The Joker, use the material we have studied so far to discuss the film and the questions it raises about nature v.s nurture, insanity versus evil, empathy or the lack of it, and how we might understand the evil of someone like “the joker.” San Diego State Significant Impact on Roman Literature Discussion
Option B: Discuss the roles power (as in the ability to use physical strength) and authority (as in position of respect/authority) as well as issues of training, community, and belonging, have on whether some people will do what is right and ethical or what is evil. What role might empathy, or human biology, have in whether some do evil acts or allow evil acts to be committed? Be sure you use examples from our readings and my lecture to support your answer.
OPTION C: Please discuss the distinction (if any) between evil and insanity. Then, delve into the great debate about nature versus nurture. Can people be born “evil” and therefore natural evil or is nurture responsible, implying we are born good but are “made” evil. Please watch the videos and my lecture and read the articles I put up in this weeks module so you can use the material as support for your answer to my questions. I hope our Criminal Justice majors and Psychology majors will help add to our knowledge.
Interesting TED Talk – optional
Option D: Compare and contrast the Greek and Roman concepts or good vs. evil (bad). How did the Romans use literature to support and promote their culture? Do you think modern nations use similar methods to support their power and what consequences are there for “others,” people deemed outsiders or marginal?San Diego State Significant Impact on Roman Literature Discussion
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Jack Zeifang Yesterday Sep 21 at 8:23pmManage Discussion Entry Option B:The roles of power and authority, as well as training, community and belonging all play a big part in how people behave and what they determine is good or evil. To start, power is the ability to use physical strength over individuals that you are desiring to do what is right or wrong. For example, in the Stanford study on how normal people would behave if they were to be in a prison environment, Phillip Zimbardo designed an experiment that would bring the test subjects to their breaking point. Two groups of test subjects were split up into prisoners or guards. The guards were able to use whatever force that they thought was acceptable to keep the prisoners in line. When the prisoners would step out of line, a guard in the experiment decided to sit on the prisoner’s back while they did push-ups for their infractions. (Feres, Stanford Prison 13) In this case, the guards are making sure that the prisoners never think twice about testing their power. It is very demoralizing being in this situation because I feel that the majority of the time in real life, the guards do not act in good faith; they behave in an evil way because the situation that they are in could be described evil. The role of authority also comes into play in the same scenario with the Stanford prison experiment. The prisoners after the first day decided to rebel against the guards and act out. Once that happened, the guards on duty were very upset that they thought there was a lack of authority and respect for the law in the prison.
So what they decided to do the next day, was to force the cell of inmates that were rebelling into solitary confinement and try to take back their respect. Even more so emotionally, “Now guards saw the prisoners as troublemakers who were out to get them, who might really cause them some harm. In response, the guards began increasing their aggression, control, and surveillance” (Feres, Stanford Prison 17). The guards felt that their grasp on the prisoners was slipping so they had to take drastic measures to maintain their authority over them. Again, in this case, the guards I feel are acting out in an evil, egotistical manner because they are not taking into account the actual prisoners, just themselves.When looking at how empathy and human biology play a role in how people act out in an evil way or those that allow it to happen, there definitely is evidence showing that it can happen. More specifically, when taking a look at serial killers, an example of someone who is not necessarily insane but that they are acting out in an evil way is Jeffery Dahmer. Dahmer once arrested, tried pleading insane in his trial, however was proven he was not actually. His compulsion to kill could potentially be from a genetic disorder that has his brain developed in a different way than normal behaving people. (Feres, Stanford Prison 26) A mutation in the DNA that actually puts people on the homicidal path. It is hard to understand how this small change in someone’s genetic makeup can alter an individual to be such a horrible person. There is no way that serial killers can justify their actions, they still decide to kill people, however if something like a genetic alter/change occurs, then this is something that we as a society have to really consider more often when people are growing up and misbehaving. San Diego State Significant Impact on Roman Literature Discussion