Impartiality
World Literature
20 November 2013
Impartiality
You know how people yell at people in horror movies whenever the girl goes to open the door with the psychopathic murderer hiding behind it? From the perspective of the viewer, the seemingly idiotic girl in the movie is doing something completely irrational. However, put yourself in her situation. If you were being chased and fearing for your life, would you be able to think rationally? Any situation you find yourself in, it is nearly impossible to be completely rational. The reason we can’t think clearly is because we are invested in the situation. Whatever discoveries, decisions, or actions we make will affect our lives and we because of that we cannot be completely impartial no matter how hard we may try. I was recently thrown into a situation in which I had to make a decision as to how to react to a disrespectful person. In the moment, I believed that I acted impartially and solely based on what was morally and ethically correct. Although I still stand by my actions, I realize that had my emotions not been in play in the situation, I may not have reacted as quickly as I did. Regardless of how impartial I thought I was being, I was still influenced by my feelings. It is impossible for a human being to make any decision without being a little biased. We will never be able to make a decision or react to something based solely on facts and common sense. The question is whether or not our partiality can make us less adept at making decisions. Honestly, I have no idea whether or not it helps or hinders our discernment. The rational side of me believes that, of course, we would be better of making judgment calls when our emotions are not in play, just like the girl in the horror movie. However, in my soul I know that without passion and emotion we would not be able to make many of the great decisions that our heart drives us to carry out. A doctor would not be the as noble if his care for his patients did not
20 November 2013
Impartiality
You know how people yell at people in horror movies whenever the girl goes to open the door with the psychopathic murderer hiding behind it? From the perspective of the viewer, the seemingly idiotic girl in the movie is doing something completely irrational. However, put yourself in her situation. If you were being chased and fearing for your life, would you be able to think rationally? Any situation you find yourself in, it is nearly impossible to be completely rational. The reason we can’t think clearly is because we are invested in the situation. Whatever discoveries, decisions, or actions we make will affect our lives and we because of that we cannot be completely impartial no matter how hard we may try. I was recently thrown into a situation in which I had to make a decision as to how to react to a disrespectful person. In the moment, I believed that I acted impartially and solely based on what was morally and ethically correct. Although I still stand by my actions, I realize that had my emotions not been in play in the situation, I may not have reacted as quickly as I did. Regardless of how impartial I thought I was being, I was still influenced by my feelings. It is impossible for a human being to make any decision without being a little biased. We will never be able to make a decision or react to something based solely on facts and common sense. The question is whether or not our partiality can make us less adept at making decisions. Honestly, I have no idea whether or not it helps or hinders our discernment. The rational side of me believes that, of course, we would be better of making judgment calls when our emotions are not in play, just like the girl in the horror movie. However, in my soul I know that without passion and emotion we would not be able to make many of the great decisions that our heart drives us to carry out. A doctor would not be the as noble if his care for his patients did not