Kenneth’s School Blog

What is an Informed Conscience?

In order to make a decision doctor’s access a wide range of medical knowledge and patient history in order to diagnose a problem and treatment. The same principle can be applied to making moral decisions. We must be well informed regarding all the facts of the situation, moral values, virtues and laws in order to make our final decision. Therefore, an informed catholic conscience is an educated conscience that knows in any given situation.

Read the following scenario and answer the questions:

Roger Smith, a quite competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During the course of his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into the water. The boy is screaming for help. Smith recognises that there is absolutely no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless, he chooses to ignore the boy’s cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold — he doesn’t want to get his good clothes wet either. “Why should I inconvenience myself for this kid,” Smith says to himself, and passes on.

1.) There are always TWO sides to a conscience. What would Roger’s conscience be telling him?

From this scenario, we can see that one side of Roger’s conscience told him not to save the drowning boy. The reason being was because he did not want to get his clothes soaked and also the fact that he did not want to catch a sickness from the cold water. There are always two sides to a conscience. The other side of Roger’s conscience would have be telling him that the boy isn’t as great of a swimmer he is. But based on his decision, he ignored this conscience and followed the other one.

2.) Think of an example of Jesus’ teaching and explain how his teachings can help us to make an appropriate decision?

Jesus would tell of stories to people. In The Gospel of Luke, chapter 10 verses 25-37, Jesus told of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. If Roger did what the Samaritan did, Roger would most definitely make the right decision and save the boy. There are many other examples other then this one, i.e The Beatitudes.

1.) Give a brief description of who the Dalai Lama is? (Include resources to support)

A brief definition of the Dalai Lama is: the spiritual leader and the head of state of the Tibetan people. Dalai Lama Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe is the current Dalai Lama who was born on July, 6th, in the year 1935. He is the 14th Dalai Lama and can be called “His Holiness”. He is also entitled as Tenzin Gyatso.

The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader as previously said, who practices in Tibetan Buddhism. (By now you should have realised that the Dalai Lama is an important figure to the Tibetan people, for more information click here).

2.) Evaluate how the actions of the Dalai Lama in regard to the riots in Tibet would be regarded as exemplary moral integrity.

The actions of the Dalai Lama is regarded as exemplary moral integrity. The reason behind this is because that the Dalai Lama is willing to give up his place as the head of the Tibet Government if the riots keep continuing, as he said in Dharamsala in northern India. What the Dalai Lama said, is the best way which can be used to stop the violence and riots happening by giving up his ‘absolute power’.

His way of dealing with this situation is just. Comparing his actions to Kohlberg’s moral development theory, His moral reasoning is at the highest stage, which means that the Dalai Lama, as a righteous man has based his reasoning for justice.

1.) Describe the term ‘interactive TV’.

Also known as ITV, ITV is a modern day TV which allows viewers to achieve more then just watching live TV and DVDs. You have access to special tasks, for instance shopping and banking from home.

2.) Explain the reasons why interactive TV is now called TV 2.0.

The reason that interactive TV is called TV 2.0 is because similar to Web 2.0, it means that ITV is more modern. This also can mean how you can do things at home without the need of travelling out.

3.) Outline the positives and negatives of implementing interactive TV.

There are a few positives which I can point out. The first positive is that, ITV allows you to watch TV in a different way then the normal TV. i.e A person watching soccer on ITV can change the angle of the screen. The second positive is that, using ITV allows you to shop using the television, this saves you time and doesn’t require you to walk into the shop and look for the item.
I will talk about one negative, which is how, installing ITV can cost you a lot of money, more then a normal TV.

4.) Apple released recently Apple TV – Take 2. Describe the reasons why it needed to be changed.

Can not answer question yet, cannot watch viedo because internet is capped.

1.) Define the term ‘moral integrity’

According to the question being answered on http://www.blurtit.com/q249544.html
Moral Integrity refers to “a moral value and an ethical notion which is complex by nature.” To have moral integrity is when a person is able to realise the ethics (which is study of what is right or wrong) even in times of difficulty.

2.) Describe why Maximillian Kolbe is regarded as a Christian of exemplary moral integrity.

Maximillian Kolbe is regarded as a Christian of exemplary moral integrity because of what he did. Maximillian provided shelter to the refugees in World War II and saved a man who was suppose to be killed in a Nazi Concentration Camp. Following in Jesus’ footsteps, he saved the man without anyone forcing or telling him to.

3.) Outline Maximillians ethical actions/principles that he demonstrated in Auschwitz.

The actions Maximillian did in Auschwitz was when he was calming the men in the cell by saying prayers and singing songs. He also offered his life to spare a man called Franciszek Gajowniczek who was in the camp with Maximillian.

4.) Evaluate whether you think he made the right decision and provide research to support your answer. i.e. Catholic teachings.

Being a person with the Christian faith, sacrificing himself to save another is indeed righteous. Maximillian fits into the beatitude, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

1.) Explain the purpose of using ‘youtube’ as a source of digital media advertising?The purpose of using Youtube as a sort of advertising is actually really simple. Using it as a advertising source allows viewers who ever click on the videos to see the product the advertisers are selling. Using Youtube is cost effective, without paying a large amount of money.

2.) Discuss how collaborative media sites such as youtube, myspace and bebo have changed the current boundaries of media such as news, advertising ect.

These days, people from all ages would use social community sites such as Myspace and Bebo. Advertising has never been easier, using Youtube to advertise to those teenagers and young adults who use these social community sites. News have also been put up on sites which play videos or on specific Bebo or Myspace pages.

3.) Provide a link to an advertising commercial on youtube.

This video is an advertisement for the Honda Accord

1.) Define the term ‘digital media’.

Digital media refers to information which is presented either using animations, graphics or text which is computer generated.

2.) How has digital media evolved over the last 5-10 years?

Digital media has been evolving over the past 5-10 years. Before 2000, there has only been very little information on the internet as there in our modern society. Currently, we are able to use helpful tool like the Macs and use mobile phones with a modern design. Television so far has improved from the low choice of colours, to a wide variety which has made TV in our present day more enjoyable.

3.) Discuss the reasons why digital newspapers are extremely popular?

Digital newspapers extremely popular today in our world. This is because as technology has advanced, newspapers can be found on a few steps through the assess of the internet. Most people in our present days, like to work smarter and not harder. Instead of actually going into the news agency to buy a newspaper, there is an easier option.

1.) Watch the following clip:

Scenario 1: You are on a train coming home from a day at the beach. The train stops at a station and a group a youths get on the train and start bashing an elderly ethnic man. You notice people getting off the train.

Discuss what you would do in this situation.

In this situation, I would attempt to stop the group of youths from injuring the elderly man. If that attempt fails, I will go to the other side of the carriage and call the police, telling him the time and the train’s next stop to stop the harassment.

Scenario 2: You get a message from a girl that you are interested asking you to come over her house. When you get there a number of her friends are present and they say they are bored. One of them promotes the idea of going for a walk and causing a riot. At first you tell them “No way”. However, the girl you like states that “she will like you more if you go”.

Discuss what you would do in this situation.

If I was in this situation, I wouldn’t like the girl I previously liked because she supports inappropriate behaviour. But before that. I would try to convince the girl of what the consequences of the actions will be.

1.) Watch the following clip:

Describe what is a person’s ‘conscience’.

A person’s conscience refers to a person’s “inner sense of right or wrong”. If your conscience is bad, you generally would do the wrong actions. Based on the clip, a conscience is a voice in your head which tells you an appropriate action and an inappropriate action.

2.) Watch the following clip:

Describe how a persons conscience works in making moral decisions. Explain the relationship between religion and conscience.

A person’s consciences works in making moral decisions by looking at the situation telling us both sides, either right or wrong. The relationship that is between religion and conscience is that, your religion forms your conscience. Depending on your religion, your conscience that is shaped will differ.

1.) Define the term “Moral Maturity”

To be morally mature is when someone is ‘grown up’ in their thoughts of what is right or wrong. If you are at the highest stage of the moral maturity level, according to Kohlberg’s theory, you choose the right answer for justice.

2.) Read the following article:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/knife-arrest-cop-pelted/
2008/03/24/1206206967590.html

Discuss the reasons why the 25 year old man mentioned in the article would be regarded as having a lack of ‘moral maturity’.

This person is lacking moral maturity as a 25 year old man because he was doing certain actions which were against the law. The man pelted and spat on a policemen. He damaged a vehicle, and as a result, got himself arrested. His moral maturity level is very low as only infants would spit on people.

3.) Identify the differences between ‘morality’ and ‘immorality’.

Morality is when an action is appropriate and correct. Immorality is the opposite of morality where actions are inappropriate and dire.

4.) Watch the following clip and describe the reasons why Governor Spitzer’s actions would be regarded as ‘immoral’.

This clip shows Governor Spitzer as doing an immoral action because he was with a prostitute. This is bad because Spitzer is a man with a wife and three daughters. This is not following what God taught us.

1.) Which countries have banned the Internet?
There are 13 countries which have banned the internet, listed as ‘Enemies of the Internet’. They are:

2.) Describe what the following image is about? (Provide TWO websites to support your findings)

This image is about how China has banned Youtube because of many Tibetan Protest Videos, examples are shown on this site. This ban has affected over 200 million internet users in China. Here is another site to support my findings.

http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/C/CHINA_YOUTUBE_
BLOCKED?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=
DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-03-16-10-08-59
3.) Provide evidence of at least FIVE sources (Websites, newspapers, blogs, videos ect) that discuss the reasons why these countries have taken such a drastic approach.

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/170-a-map-of-the-internets-black-holes

http://www.listafterlist.com/tabid/57/listid/8267/The+Web/List+of+Countries+that+have+Banned+YouTube.aspx

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/02/27/boingboing-banned-in.html

http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/07/turkey-says-no-more-youtube/

4.) Discuss how you would feel if the Australian government banned the Internet. What privileges would you lose? (2 Paragraphs)

If the Australian Government would have banned the internet in Australia, it would really be hard to make many things almost impossible. I wouldn’t wish the internet become something that is banned because I use it a lot.

People will lose many privileges, like for entertainment, whether online gaming or watching videos on Youtube. Businessmen wouldn’t get ‘on the spot’ info on whether stock rates are increasing or decreasing. There are many more things which people will lose without the internet, like a resource for information. If this situation ever happened to my life, I would be living in a very boring life.