How to decide What is Good (or Right)? Or can you?

I came across this chart I had made about 10 years ago while teaching students for the philosophy olympiad. This is a rather simplistic view of the idea of Good and my understanding has evolved a little after this. This doesn't directly address the question in the title. However, this chart tells the uninitiated, the following:

1. There is no ONE concept of Good or consequently, Evil. It is a matter of perspective.
2. There is therefore no easy way to claim that something is EVIL without hesitation. For instance, consumption of drugs or alcohol can be considered as Good according to Hedonism.

So, when a philosophy student wants to determine if X is good, (or write an essay) his program has to be as follows: 

1. Determine the root axioms of your philosophy, i.e. the fundamental principle upon which you will build your reasoning
2. Gather evidence in support as well as opposition of X being good
3. Apply your principle to X and construct an argument just like a mathematical proof
4. Finally and above all, keep in mind that another principle or philosophy can prove your conclusion wrong. That, there may be many principles which are equally useful at arriving at the truth and that they may give different answers.
5. HENCE, try to:
1. Counter all other principles which could be against your conclusion. i.e. try to show why they are not valid
2. If the above is not entirely possible, then try to create doubt regarding the other principles or philosophies, i.e. point our flaws in them
3. Finally, give a solid reasoning as to why your chosen principle or philosophy is the best applicable to determine if X is good
4. Hence give your conclusion

This applies equally so in personal life. If knowing the goodness of something is really important, one must follow these steps as critically as one can to arrive at the conclusion. You may ask, what if we apply the wrong principle or make some mistake in our reasoning. Yes, this is always possible. Even with great philosophers. Hence, they follow a method of dialog between them and other equally competent minds. You could discuss with other intelligent people yourselves. And if such is not possible, then you should rest your mind by realizing that this is the best thing you could do ... reason your way to the truth. Hence, if you are proven wrong you need not repent.

Hope some of you try this.

 

 For those who may be confused with stating that time doesn't exist: Time as in a physical parameter may not have any actual existence unlike mass or charge. However the concept of time does exist. We perceive it through the change that happens within us and around us. The change is largely unidirectional, meaning that we cannot undo what happens. This is the sense of entropy - the idea of order reducing and disorderliness increasing in everything in this universe.

Entropy has a tangible form. We can observe it and measure it. We grow from a zygote into a full blown adult, who has cells being created and destroyed all the time in randomly different parts of their body. There is no unique pattern in this.

Mountains crumble even if a tiny bit in many years; stars shine out their light; galaxies move apart on large scales. Even the human mind which desperately tries to fight to secure order in the "world" of that person, cannot but digress and diffuse eventually.

Time is the perception of entropy and not a physical quantity in its own right.

But then, should we even measure it? Well ... That's for another time.

Study Skills Workshop

This is a brief guide for teachers planning Study skills workshops and parents who may want to help their children study better. We need to use the following resources to begin with. So please try to read carefully through them. Also, there are certain tests which are appropriate only for certain ages and which tell us where the child stands. These tests are only an indication and the child’s preferences or attitudes will change somewhat over time. SO they are not to be taken as final. You should test the child in this and use the scores to guide the child.

Please note that teaching kids to learn is a highly specialized field and not the same as teaching them a subject. However, with effort every teacher can attempt to better the child’s life.

Methodology

Will add soon

Resources

1. What is Effective Learning? (My Presentation)

1. The case for learning to learn for Life

2. What is Effective Learning?

3. Knowing Yourself

2. What is VARK and why should teachers, parents and students know this?

3. What are VARK study strategies for students?

4. How to find your VARK Mode of Learning? 

1. For Std 5 to 8

2. For Std 9 to 12

5. What is Multiple Intelligence? How does it affect one’s study and career goals?

6. How to find your Multiple Intelligence? - 

1. For Std 5 to 8

2. For Std 9 to 12 

7. What is the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator? How can it help determine a career?

8. How to know your Personality type from Myers-Briggs Test? (For Std 9 to 12)

9. How to plan a career? (My Article for Std 9 above)

10. Learning Strategies - Steps in learning; How to preview; How to read; How to make notes; How to ask questions; etc. (My Notes)

11. Previewing  Medthods and Strategy

12. Reading Strategies - Online Reading Lab (Excellent tutorials and samples), 

13. Note Making - The Cornell Method, Cornell Method Template, Also use - Outlining, Mind-Maps, Annotations (Look here)