Mary Midgley: Trying out ones new sword
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What I expect to learn:
In this chapter, I expect to learn what moral isolationism is and to understand different values and beliefs of other people.
Quote:
“Understanding has degrees. It is not a slapdash yes-or-no matter.”
Review:
In this chapter, Midgley talks about moral isolationism. Here, what I really remember is the old Japanese tradition that a samurai sword had to be tried out because , if it was to work properly or before you can say that the samurai is ready to use it had to slice through someone at a single blow, from the shoulder to the opposite flank. Otherwise, the warrior could ijure his honor, offend his ancestors, and even let down his emperor. When we think of traditions like this, we can immediately say or question their culture but in this chapter what it tells us is that we need to be in the position to judge and criticize them. We must be qualified or be a member of their culture to say that we can pass judgment on them. We first need to understand things before we argue, before we discuss things and before we can say that one is wrong. That is what moral isolationism is. On the other hand, we all know that we can learn from our strangers and there are times that we want to learn from them but to do this, we have to distinguish between those strangers who are worth learning from and those who are not. Sometimes we really need to be open in order to improve. Just like what Midgley says “Furthermore, it falsely assumes that cultures are separate and unmixed, whereas most cultures are in fact formed out of many influences. Here we can see that yes it is true especially we as Filipinos, we know that we got so many influences from different races especially when the Spanish, Americans and Japanese conquer the Philippines. In the last sentence of this chapter, it says that there is only one world, and we all have to live in it. Yes, that’s right we are all different but we are living in one world and because of that we need to open our minds to one another and accept changes for improvement or development.
What I have learned:
I’ve learned in this chapter that before we criticize or jusge other’s beliefs or cultures, we must first try to understand them and try to imagine how to be in their position. Think first before you react.
Integrative questions:
- What is moral isolationism?
- What is Midgley’s point about tsujigiri?
- Why is the chapter entitled Trying out ones new sword?
