Category: Respect

Should We Respect Institutions?

In the news today, there is a lot of talk about institutions that are present in our lives. How important is it to respect those institutions?

There are many organizations and structures — institutions — that exist in modern day society. Some help people, but some are used to take advantage of them. Some maintain fairness for everyone, but others make discrimination and unfairness official.

There is also a growing movement to radically change or even dismantle some of these structures. That instinct is understandable, particularly when they are perceived to be causing an injustice of some sort.

One problem that arises is that different groups disagree on which organizations are beneficial, and which ones need to be reformed. I might think that Department A is important, but Department B is not. You, on the other hand, feel the exact opposite. What should we do?

Two questions seem relevant: 1) How do we determine the relative importance of each individual institution? 2) In the case where an institution needs change, what is the best way to implement that change?

Our society thrives on stability. The stock market depends on it. Consumer confidence relies on it. Even an individual’s sense of safety and security in their community can be impacted by instability.

With that in mind, should we be making changes to our institutions at all? Even the ones that could be made more fair and even? But if we don’t change, are we accepting the flaws that currently exist in the system?

In many ways, our lives are ruled by the structures all around us. Do we show them respect, and what does “respect” even mean in this instance?

Related questions: How important is respect? What role should government play in our lives? Who has power? What are our responsibilities to others?

What Are The Benefits Of Expressing Gratitude?

There are many self-help outlets — books, blogs, podcasts, and so on — that advocate regular expressions of gratitude. Why?

Expressions of gratitude can come in many different forms. They can be private expressions, in your head while you are meditating, for example. Or they can be public, directly to the person or object being thanked, or even to an entire audience of people.

You may have practiced these displays yourself. (If not, surely your imagination will suffice.) When you think, write, or speak your affirmations, what happens? What changes might take place, both within you, in the subject of your gratitude, and within society at large?

There are surely some benefits for this behavior, or else it would not be recommended by so many people in so many outlets. In your experience, what benefits come from expressing gratitude?

Related questions: What are you grateful for? What does it mean to be thankful? How could you show your appreciation for others more? What are our responsibilities to others?

How Can Humans Become More Humane?

Human history is filled with aggression, violence, betrayal, greed, and other negative acts. How can we become more humane?

While there are plenty of instances of people treating each other with grace and dignity, the opposite is alarmingly common. And all too often, the underlying cause is suspicion and mistrust of the other.

It is easy to understand bad behavior when life and death is on the line. If my family is going to starve, I might steal your food to feed them. That may not be right, but it makes sense.

However, what do we make of more abstract differences? Why do we attack or enslave someone else because their skin color is different from ours? Or they pray to a different god? Or they speak a different language?

There may be an evolutionary cause to our behavior. A person who mistrusted others in different tribal groups may have been more likely to survive into adulthood and have offspring. We may be hardwired that way.

Now however, that same behavior is counterproductive at best, and actively destructive at worst. We can see divisions growing between groups for the simplest of reasons. People are insulted and attacked online, which ruins the experience for everyone. Misogyny, homophobia, racism all run rampant in today’s society.

Is there any way we can improve things? Can we train ourselves to treat others with respect and compassion, even if we don’t know them? Can we overcome our baser instincts and be more humane? On a personal level, what do you do if you suspect you might be succumbing to your darker nature?

Related questions: How can we encourage meaningful conversation? Why do we hate? How can you love someone who does something you hate? Why does social media often bring out the worst in us?

Do You Follow The Golden Rule?

The Golden Rule — treat others as you wish to be treated — is a sentiment common in cultures and religions across the world. Do you follow it?

The idea is a simple one, easily stated, and easily understood. And yet, it can be very difficult to practice.

There are many reasons why you might not follow the Golden Rule. They might vary from self-interest, fear, or even kindness.

For instance, you might well think that you want someone to come to your aid if you are in trouble. However, fear might prevent you from helping someone else in a dangerous situation.

In another situation, you might tell a small lie to spare the feelings of someone you love, even if you think you would want the truth in return.

Related: Listen to an episode of the Intellectual Roundtable Podcast, where Lee and Michael discuss this question: ‘What are our responsibilities to others?’ We also discuss another question as well, ‘Are we too busy?’

In our state and national politics, we see the Golden Rule violated frequently. One elected official, for example, may vote against offering aid to another state in a disaster, and yet accepts the helping hand when the disaster befalls them. No doubt you can think of numerous other examples.

There are endless opportunities to treat others the way you wish to be treated. In fact, just about every interaction with someone else is such a chance. It might be face-to-face, online, or from hundreds or thousands of miles away. It might include actions, speech, or even thoughts about someone else.

Can you think of notable examples where you followed the Golden Rule? Are there times when you didn’t?

Related questions: How do you serve others? What expectations do you have of others? How do other people motivate you? Why does social media often bring out the worst in us? Why do we hate?

Do Animals Have Rights?

The concept of inherent rights is well established for humans. Do any of those rights extend to animals?

Humans are born (at least in the United States) with certain “unalienable” rights, which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Bill of Rights enumerate additional rights. Other countries may differ in exact language, but in most places it is assumed that humans have some rights from birth.

Other animals are not human, however, and human laws and ideas do not automatically extend to them. But what are the differences between humans and other animals, and do those differences really matter?

One difference, of course, is that other animals don’t have laws, or form governments. Why should human laws and rights apply to non-humans?

While it is true that no animal other than humans have written a constitution, it is not clear that a written document is needed. A colony of bees has a well-defined hierarchy, for instance. You could almost consider a hive to be the equivalent of a (human) country.

What about the argument that humans are sentient, and they are the only such animal? That argument relies on the definition of sentience, and there does not seem to be a way to know for certain if other animals are, in fact, sentient.

Human laws are often written for the benefit of those people who do not have any political power. They allow for people with little or no power to avoid being taken advantage of by those who do. That would certainly seem to describe animals, who quite literally have no voice.

And yet, there are some rights which cannot and should not apply to animals. No taxation without representation? That doesn’t make any sense at all — animals don’t pay taxes, and it would seem impossible to give (direct) representation to, say, a bear.

So what rights, if any, should (non-human) animals have?

Related questions: Does nature have rights? How are humans like other animals? How are they different? Personal rights or public safety? What are our responsibilities to others?