Dr. Avis Glaze presented an invocation at the July 16, 2024 Rotary Club of Ladner member meeting.
Professor Michael Sandal, an American Rhodes Scholar, who teaches political philosophy at Harvard, gave a lecture at The Oxford Union - a prestigious student debating society at The University of Oxford, known as an independent forum for unrestricted debate. He is masterful in his use of what is described as the Socratic Method which involves rigorous dialogue between teacher and student, designed to foster critical thinking, by posing thought-provoking questions. The discussion question of the day was: Are There Things Money Shouldn't Be Able To Buy?
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| Dr. Avis Glaze |
Students were emphatic that there should not be a free market for things like buying and selling human organs such as your kidneys which would have dire circumstances for people who are poor. It just wouldn't be ethical because of inequality, coercion, desperation and fear.
One student insisted: "If you can sell everything, nothing is sacred. Human beings are different from cars. We should not treat ourselves as commodities."
Another question: Is it ok to pay kids to do chores? or for getting good marks? In one situation students were paid $50 for an A, $35 for a B - or, in Dallas, they offer $2.00 for each book a student reads.
Again, some students fe1t that we would diminish intrinsic motivation if we incentivize everything. Should learning not be for its own sake? Some asked, concluding that monetary cash incentives should not replace higher order motives and intentions.
Perhaps surprisingly to some of us, when students were paid for tasks, the number of the activities they wanted to engage in dropped by half compared to when they did chores voluntarily. In other words, when payment was introduced for the activities students once did voluntarily, they were less motivated- saying that they did not want to be "bribed."
Unfortunately, it seems that in today's world, there is a feeling that the 'Law of the Market," (economic value or price) should be the dominant measure placed on the value of our products, services and activities.
Many of the issues we grapple with daily are certainly not just economic or values-neutral. They are multi dimensional. We must encourage dialogue on ethical issues and how they impact our lives. For the good of our children and our human relationships we cannot allow a moral vacuum. As Rotarians, let's continue to enliven our discussions, judgments, decision-making and actions in our efforts to protect human dignity - regardless of their age.