College essays.... feel free to blast and flame

They could programme a computer to write A grade UK A-Level essays, it fucking disgusts me. You could be the smartest bloke in the universe, and the chump on the next table is kicking your arse because he can do exactly what he's told.

 

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In a word, saccharine. I'd write about the ethical dilemma instead, or maybe a more serious setback ... a death in the family, a severe illness/injury, but not this Rugrats type stuff. That being said, while I didn't like the content, the writing wasn't bad.

 

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Eh, that's life.

 

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It doesn't matter...all american universities suck equally well.

Pehaps thats down to the quality of the applicants

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Dee Cee

 

Fucking life...

 

Well, that has more to do with the acceptance of moral relativism being taught from high school through college more than it really has to do with a college education. Recently, a poll stated that 70% of college professors are teaching moral relativism in their classrooms. Problem with that, is that people are still expected to live by the ethics and morals of 50-100 years ago when it comes to business and commerce, and then the perpetrators get confused as to why it's unethical. It's not isolated to the U.S. either, it's all over Europe as well.

Moral relativism is a worldview, and basically means that ethical standards, morality, and right or wrong are culturally based and subject to a person's individual choice. Teaching moral relativism says, "It's true for you, if you believe it." So, you have masses of college students believing that as long as it feels right for them, then it is right... no matter who it hurts in the process or what ethical by-laws may be the expected norms.

Don't get me wrong, there can be places where moral relativism can be applied in a beneficial way, but mostly in social situations.

 

what is moral relativism?

 

http://www.moral-relativism.com/

Stanford has a more descriptive entry;

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-relativism/

 

hmm...i guess I didn't read your original post properly.

But is it really true that moral relativism is an accepted dogma in the scientific world and hence at the universities? Obviously we can get away with more strange behaviour at most european universities than at american ones, but the process of scientific practice (publishing papers, presentations) is under international peer scrutiny. And I have the impression that the moral values that are supposed to underlie scientific practice are rather uniform and invariable in the scientific community.

(i don't have an answer. just curious)

 

It was a study of schools worldwide. I don't know if it included science. Science, however is not above having major ethical issues. In fact, I think that moral relativism in science would be the most dangerous of all. Build a better bomb because your culture believes that power is more important than human life... you see where that was heading (thank you a-bomb). I think that teaching people that if they feel it's right, then it is right... is a wrong direction to head in.

 

Where's that poll, the 70% one?

 

Did you actually read that first link Arditezza? www.moral-relativism.com is a religious nutcase rant clothed in eloquent language! The Stanford link however is exhaustively detailed and apparently balanced look at it.

 

I did read the first link. I think he's somewhat right in his take on moral relativism, which is why I posted it. I am an atheist though and still believe that moral relativism is wrong at the core.

I don't remember where the poll was, it was several years ago.

 

While philosophically I can see problems which certainly could strike societys as a result of wide-spread moral-relativism . . . in practical application of avoiding such -- it comes down to the cliche but still insurmountable question "so who's moral values are the 'correct' model then?

In America these days the Christian model is most revered, however there is a lot of relativism between different systems/franchises within Christianity - and some folks like me have found the Bible to be a pretty appalling and nasty-spirited book to base our moral structure on. So which model should we use?

 

The "correct" philosophy is whatever allows a society to stay sustainable in its environment, both natural and cultural. Moral Relativism is sort of required in an American democracy, since it is the logical approach to tolerance. Since America is built upon immigrants, Americans must be tolerant of differing views.

The model that is adopted is the model that functions best for that specific environment. Once the model becomes outdated or too incongrous, it will be dropped, revised, or the society will perish.

 

Its the death of cultural relativism and moral relativism thats made half of the problems of today, if New Guinean tribesman want to chop off each others heads, crack the skull, squeeze them out and them boil the heads, its not my place to stop them. If i dont like it, ill stay clear of New Guinea!

 

Or if you want to buy products from companies that use human slaves to cut costs, it's not my place to stop you.

 

That essay might get you in Michigan, but not Stanford. With a 34 on your ACT you don't need much, but you will need something that is at least partially original and gives insight on your abilities.