Transcript American Social Values - Chinese Mental Health

American Social Values
(Prof. Dennis P. McCann, CRRS Lecturer)
Outline of Topic:
• American Social Values: Description
• American Social Values: Evaluating Strengths
and Weaknesses
• A Brief Note on Methodology: Ethics and
American Pragmatism
• Purpose of this Discussion in China: Comparative
Ethics and the Need for Mutual Learning
American Social Values: Description (1)
BASIC
SELF
OTHER
“Self-Reliance”
“Fair Play”
Honesty
Promise
POSTURE
KEY MORAL
VIRTUE
Keeping
American Social Values: Description (2)
Self
Society
Feeling
Spontaneity
Voluntary
Association
Acting
Improvisation
Flexibility
Thinking
Challenge
Encourage
Authority
Questioning
American Social Values: Description (3)
Self
Society
Economic
and Social
Reward Based
on Merit
Be a “Good
Sport”
Political
Style
Distrust
Big
Government
Support
Local
Community
American Social Values: Evaluation (1)
Social Values
Strengths
Weaknesses
Personal
Freedom
Innovative,
Self-Organizing
Brink of
Anarchy
Social
Relationships
Open and
Friendly
Superficial,
Transient
American Social Values: Evaluation (2)
Social Values
Strengths
Weaknesses
Family Values
Egalitarian,
Consensual,
Experimental
Erosion of
Authority,
Dysfunctional
Work Ethic
Personal
Achievement
Honored
Indifference
to Social
Solidarity
American Social Values: Methodology
What is the Study of Social Morality?
• Ethos and Ethics
• Descriptive and Normative Inquiry
• “Is” and “Ought”
• Contexts and Principles
American Social Values: Methodology (2)
The Study of Context: From Social Sciences
 Cultures
 Institutions/Organizations
 Social Practices
 “Habits of the Heart”
 Socialization (Becoming a
Member of Society)
American Social Values: Methodology (3)
The Study of Principles: Philosophy of
American Pragmatism (James and Dewey)
 Individuation (Becoming a Person)
 Feelings
 Beliefs/Convictions/Values
 Virtues and Obligations
 Moral Responsibility
American SocialValues: The Goals
“Everything is to be Understood;
Not Everything is to be Imitated.”
Social Practice -- Theory -- Ethical Praxis
Understand Strengths in order to Overcome
Weaknesses
The Need for Mutual Learning