Nature & Human Values by Caprice Agassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun Dr. Heather Fester en-us 2022-08-25 17:08:36 UTC 2025-09-29 21:58:56 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f98c.png 13 Ways of Seeing Nature in Golden capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271641936 Jenny Price notates that despite the hostile environment of LA, nature can still thrive and adapt to its surroundings. This bunny adapted to the chaos of everyday college life. Despite the chaos of thundering feet, thick crowds, and man-made structures, this bunny feeds, lives, and continues as Jenny Price mentions.]]> 2022-08-25 16:11:37 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271641936 Week 1: Intro to NHV & Ways of Looking at Nature capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271647850 In the "Thirteen ways of Seeing Nature in LA" article, Price references the consumption of natural resources as human nature. An example is the rose lemonade I was drinking and the jewelry that adorned my body. The rose and lemons that made that drink came from real roses and lemons that traveled possibly across the ocean or in an airplane, all the way here. Its sole purpose being human consumption, as the same for the jewelry.]]> 2022-08-25 16:16:47 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271647850 Week 1: Intro to NHV & Ways of Looking at Nature capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271652335 One thing that had me reflect was Price's notion of the reality we live in; privilege and culture shock. Despite us all being humans we can live shockingly different lives. In this example, I grew up never being able to see the stars. I'd know it was night cause it was dark, the only remarkable thing was the moon. But, on that fateful day, I was able to observe the universe from the surface of the earth. I, unfortunately, couldn't capture its full grace, however, there were many stars bright enough to shine through on my phone camera. Many see this every day, able to witness the universe in action, I never got to till now.]]> 2022-08-25 16:20:38 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271652335 Week 1: Intro to NHV & Ways of Looking at Nature capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271658894 The river is a beautiful natural power that we keep clean and safe to swim/raft in. We built the city of Golden around and to this day keep safe. It is a prime example of the forces of nature and the forces of humanity colliding for good. ]]> 2022-08-25 16:25:48 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271658894 Week 1: Intro to NHV & Ways of Looking at Nature capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271661060 As we take care of the river, we also use the river. Here we are representing Jenny Price's definition of human nature, which is to use everything around us.]]> 2022-08-25 16:27:36 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2271661060 Moral Spheres capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2283385977 If I was in a situation where I'd have to sacrifice 1 stranger for the sake of 5, I would find it ethical to proceed. However, if I had to push a stranger off or if I knew the person, the situation would be more precarious. Moral Spheres relate to this situation as -shown in the lecture, reference picture above- strangers fall away from people you know. Meaning, that you are more likely to sacrifice others if you don't know them in comparison to people you know. In the realm of pushing the stranger off to save others, the issue comes within the action itself. With that push, you are assigning yourself the guilt of killing that person. Given that you are now physically responsible for the death of this person, you may feel a sense of apprehension in your sense of morality. Hence why some people wouldn't answer the same given their first option/situation. The same can be applied to social media, specifically the lack of interpersonal interface within it. People find it easier to bully/make fun of/threaten/etc. others due to the lack of face-to-face or in-person interaction. This can be shown in the moral spheres, thanks to that interface this places many interactions past "members of our ingroup" into "our species".]]> 2022-09-05 19:02:49 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2283385977 What level of risk is acceptable as a means of ensuring the continued progress of science and technology? capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2297040877 As scientists and engineers, we pursue technology to improve our society and world. We look to improve the quality of life for all while also satisfying our need for discovery and knowledge. In that realm, I believe we should always maintain the betterment of humanity and our world first before anything else. If the well-being of any living thing is at risk we'd have to reconsider the cost-benefit of whatever discovery we could be pursuing. We should be asking, "Does this hurt the environment we live in?", "Is the damage long-term?", "Who does this hurt?", etc. This is referenced in the lecture directly. For example, Document 1 R.M Boisjoly said "...O-ring cannot respond to the clevis opening rate and may not be capable of pressurization. The result would be a catastrophe of the highest order-loss of human life,". To reiterate, in this example the failure of a second O-ring would result in massive human death. Showing that for the O-ring to be pursued, more effort should be put into protecting the human life surrounding it. To add a different realm, I bring forth Hisashi Ouchi, the man who was kept alive while he died of radiation poisoning against his will. To avoid gruesome details, he was only kept alive to document the aftermath of radiation poisoning for science. This disgusting act of science goes against the very core of humanity and could've been pursued in a different way. There are plenty of examples of disturbing acts of humanity and each display could've been pursued entirely differently, avoiding a catastrophe or a massacre. ]]> 2022-09-14 20:19:03 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2297040877 Part 1: Please a) define the concept in one sentence, and b) list strengths and weakness of the concept. capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316074692
1. Moral Relativism
; the view that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint
     +STRENGTHS
        +Easy to understand
        +Easy to implement 
        +Popular
     -WEAKNESS
       -Too black & white
       -Doesn't fully portray the complexity of morality
2. Utilitarianism
; the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority.
     +STRENGTHS
      +Emphasis on Neutrality
      +Pragmatic and focuses on consequences
     -WEAKNESS
      -Cannot predict consequences of actions
      -Cannot assign a value to an amount of pleasure
3. Deontology
; the study of the nature of duty and obligation
     +STRENGTHS
       +Considers what we are obligated to do
       +Justice is absolute
     -WEAKNESS
       -Cold & Impersonal
       -Conflict between specific duties & individual rights
4. Virtue Ethics
; a moral theory that focuses on the development of virtuous character 
     +STRENGTHS
       +Universally implemented and admired
       +Rewards universally admired traits
     -WEAKNESS
      -Incomplete, no definitive answer to what should be done in moral dilemmas
      -Avoids the development of virtuous character/rules and aspirations
5. Liberalism
; a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, and equality before the law
     +STRENGTHS
       + Focus on maintaining the rights of the governed
       + Works in a completely democratic government
     -WEAKNESS
       - Doesn't work in undemocratic governments
- Easy to manipulate and abuse to fit a certain agenda
]]> 2022-09-27 17:44:51 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316074692 Which definitions of justice resonate with your personal ethics? Why? capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316077203 From what I understand from the lecture, Justice as Merit best fits my ethics. The lecture defines "Justice as Merit" as justice that takes into account a person's ability, effort, achievement, or social status. In my personal beliefs, I believe it's impossible to achieve true equality in a society where everyone is at different levels/stances/abilities in life from the get-go. You cannot have true equality when one side is completely burdened while the other is seemingly unimpacted. Every single person's individual stance should be considered when making a decision that impacts a multi-faceted realm of justice. Doing so allows for a well-rounded perspective and solution where everyone is considered and/or happy. See the image above. Our society as we experience it is far too complex to simplify our issues into one perspective/solution that we perceive as 'fair'. One box may help one person, but it ignores an entirely other group impacted by the same issue.]]> 2022-09-27 17:46:12 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316077203 Part 1 capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316080249 1. What other problems/issues might be more “adaptive” than “technical”?
I'd argue that leadership is more adaptive than technical because of the different topics in which one could maintain leadership. For example, a person could lead the organization while also allowing another member to take the floor on the specifics of aerodynamics. Someone may specialize in a specific role that another doesn't have much say in, then in that case that person should lead in that discussion as they have expertise. 

2. What skills are necessary to address adaptive challenges?
You'd have to be ready to relinquish control of certain aspects of the project, be prepared to mediate conversations in the beginning (talk-stick, 'wait your turn', 'what do you think?', etc.), relinquishing the floor, giving praise where praise is due, ask questions, include others in discussions, etc.

3. What skills -more generally- do you think are necessary to be a good engineer/scientist?
You'd have to master the art of asking the right questions, mediation, including and inspiring the creativity of your team, and having an OPEN MIND to EVERYTHING.

]]> 2022-09-27 17:47:57 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316080249 Revisit your answers about obligations to future generations. In light of population trends, does your thinking about having children change? Why? capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316301673 My decision to not have children are beyond obligations and population trends. My decision is engraved more so socially, mentally, and physically. However to elaborate on this in connection to the lecture. Having children currently is signing their death warrant due to the conditions of the environment and our leader's disregard for their obligations to future generations. To reiterate, in the lecture Dr. Sandy Woodson implores us to explore our definition of obligation and whether we have any. Defining it literally as the ability to include other groups that are being impacted by situations that haven't impacted you yet. I believe I have an obligation to future generations as I can foresee the events that'll impact their education, health, and overall well-being. I employ my basic sense of empathy to know that they deserve a present that they are completely nourished in and that my decisions now impact that later on. In connection to my personal decision on children, I cannot have them, knowing that there are plenty of others who don't share my views. Or more specifically, others in power who don't have a sense of obligation. Gen Z (my generation) has similar views as I do, however, we won't be able to shift enough of the world to impact future generations in time. We already see enough evidence of detrimental setbacks in humanity happening right before our eyes, all we can do is fix as much as we can. We have a duty to make the earth habitable, enjoyable, and safe for humans and the many species that inhabit it. However, we are in no condition to guarantee the safety of our children or our future children. Thus it wouldn't be just or right to force others to experience a lifetime of potential suffering. Until we fix this mess and make it safe for EVERYONE to some degree, children aren't an option for me.]]> 2022-09-27 20:16:31 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316301673 In the above scenario, was anything done that was immoral? Is your decision based on intuition, or reason? Which did you respond with first? Was your reasoning used to justify your intuition, or do you think it was the result of impartial thought? capriceagassounon https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316303588 I believe the family's actions are immoral. This was based on my intuition which was then backed by my reason. Tying this into the lecture, I bring forth Jonathan Haidt's definition of a Moral system, "Moral systems are interlocking sets of values, virtues, norms, practices, identities, institutions, technologies, & evolved psychological mechanisms that work together to suppress or regulate self-interest and make cooperative societies possible," (Haidt,2012).  It's implied that the family is situated in a neighborhood where eating roadkill isn't the established norm, especially roadkill that belonged to another family. It's also implied that the family had a different view of the dog from the neighbor. To the neighbor, the dog is family; a beloved member. To the family, the dog is food. Based on these observations it's obvious that the family has a skewed moral code in comparison to the neighbor/neighborhood/community. Meaning that the family is in an entirely different moral system than everyone else. Therefore in the scope of the community's moral system what the family did was unfair and immoral. They hadn't paid the proper respects to the neighbor, the dog, or the respective title of the dog. On my intuition, I am in the same moral system as the neighbor. I have a dog and would've been beyond crushed learning that he had died and was eaten without my consent. Initially, my first response was based on impartial thought but then I allowed my reason to completely observe the situation to come to the definitive conclusion that the family is immoral. To address further using the image above, it's entirely possible that the family is new to the community and thus its moral system. However, it is the family's duty to learn and adjust to the new expectations set before them to ensure that everyone feels respected and cherished. Its an obligation to the people around them, to ensure the best for the community.]]> 2022-09-27 20:18:14 UTC https://padlet.com/capriceagassounon/zill8f4rg1ancxun/wish/2316303588