Assignment "Jounal 1"

1A. I feel Michael is conflicted of his own opinion and feelings about capital punishment. The indicators that Michael doesn’t believe what he reasoned out were his feelings of anger and that he was proved wrong with facts that capital punishment doesn’t deter murder or other violent crimes.

I think emotions and beliefs, and moral values are the barriers of thinking critically in his case.

1B. Maria is also conflicted and not sure where she stands on the issue.  Again, some indicators are feeling angry and being proved wrong as she delve deeper into the argument.

Once again, emotions,  her belief system and moral values are barrier to thinking critically.

1C. I think Pete is like most human beings, we don’t practice what we preach. I think most of us want to be “politically” correct and are followers. But in private, most of the things we say and do to the outside world are the complete opposite of what we really feel.

1D. I think this reasoning  is mostly  Culturally based.  In the Western Culture  dogs and cats are pets therefore it is unethical to eat them. But in some cultures, they are delicacies and are considered like cows and chickens.

Once again, our beliefs and moral values come into play as barriers to thinking critically.

2. The last step is difficult because after gathering, dissecting and analyzing the facts it is hard to admit that what  one strongly believe to be right and fair is actually wrong and unreasonable.

Once again, one’s own emotions and belief system has been questioned.