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Summary
Ethics Class 05

POLITICAL IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA  (05:08 PM)

  • POSITIVE
  • It provides a platform for constructive dissent.
  • It strengthens democracy through accountability and transparency for example: Progress reports of various government programmes are available on the Internet.
  •  It promotes participative democracy through direct interaction.
  • It provides a voice to the voiceless. It can bring to the government's notice the issues that otherwise have been overlooked by the government.
  • Social media helps establish the government's legitimacy by creating acceptance for its policies and programmes.
  • Through this platform, policy inputs can be provided which can help in efficient policy-making. For example: UCC has been put on various platforms for debates and discussion.
  • NEGATIVE
  • Spreading of propaganda and misinformation which misguides the society and creates a situation of social unrest, fake news, paid news or politicization of issues through social media.
  • It can facilitate identity politics. For example: The casteisation of politics is not a threat to democracy until the groups resort to chauvinism.
  • Devicive emotionally charged content especially on sensitive issues is detrimental to the stability of democracy.
  • WAY FORWARD
  • Presenting objective truth and reducing the scope for biasedness.
  • Fact-checking of all the relevant information.
  • Sharing opinions with consideration.
  • Exercising caution while dealing with sensitive issues.

RELIGION AS AN AGENCY OF SOCIALIZATION (05:30 PM)

  • Religion is defined as a "unified system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things, which binds people into one moral community".
  • Religion influences the process of socialization in the following ways:
  • a)It helps in promoting group solidarity and cohesion through culture, tradition, festivals etc.
  • b)Religion provides individuals with a sense of belongingness.
  • c)Religious teachings help in shaping the goals of individual life. For example: the path of knowledge to achieve Kaivalya(Jainism), Gyan marg to achieve Moksha(Sanatan Dharma)
  • d)Religion provides us with a framework to manage misery and frustration. For example: Religion gives us the courage to accept life experiences as divinely predestined.
  • e)Religion helps in answering unanswered questions. For example: Matters of death and life are still beyond the realm of science, Feelings of spiritual deprivation among the educated upwardly mobile educated class, proliferation of Godman etc.
  • f)Values enshrined in our constitution are fundamental provisions of most religions.
  • g)Many leaders have called upon religious values to awaken the moral sensibility of the people.
  • h)Religion helps the individual to cope with dysfunctional influences. For example: Corruption, drug abuse, Alcoholism etc.
  • TEACHINGS OF BHAGVAT GITA
  • The first teaching Stithapragnya(Emotionally stable person).
  • Philosophy of Nishkam karma.
  • Prioritise right over pleasant.For example A culture of consumerism and the Macdonaldisation of food habits, addiction to gadgets.
  • Never give up on yourself (Endure amidst adversities).Example: Sandeep Singh (Hockey player), Arunima Sinha, E Sreedharan(Metro Man).
  • Value your blessings i.e. always be grateful for what you have, Comparison is the enemy of all happiness. In the backdrop of social comparison due to social media and  subsequent relative deprivation, this teaching is very relevant.
  • Being good is a reward in itself. For example, Values such as patience, truth, humility, integrity etc are the end, not the means.
  • Negative attitude is the root cause of all problems because there is a saying "Attitude determines your altitude"

ATTITUDE (06:13 PM)

  • It depicts the readiness of the psyche to act or react in a certain way i.e. it is an individual perception towards something.
  • Attitude is not shaped in a vacuum but it's the result of positive or negative evaluation of people, objects, ideas, events etc.
  • FEATURES OF ATTITUDE
  • a)It is long-lasting.
  • b)Attitude is learnt through the process of socialization.
  • c) Attitudes are held because they perform some functions for the individuals.
  • d)Attitude are always communicated either verbally or non-verbally.
  • e)Attitude confirms the principle of consistency.
  • f) Attitudes are subjective as it depends upon the individual.
  • Attitude has three components:
  • Belief/Cognitive-Idea/opinion of the attitude holder with respect to the attitude object.
  • Emotion/Affective-Emotion generated in attitude holder wrt attitude object.
  • Behavioural tendency-Range of actions the attitude holder wants to display with respect to the attitude object.
  • Please refer to the chart drawn on the digital board.
  • PREJUDICE (06:52 PM)
  • It is defined as a negative attitude towards a particular group. It is based on a stereotype and is often associated with dislike or hatred.
  • Prejudice may get translated into discrimination, however, the behavioural component is often controlled by means of law.
  • For example: There exists a stereotype that old people are weak, passive and dependent which generates a tendency to discriminate or indulge in abusive behaviour against them.
  • Throughout the history, there have been numerous examples:
  • a)Apartheid in South Africa(Racial prejudice)
  • b)Persecution of jews during nazi Germany(Based on ethnicity).
  • c)Untouchability in India.(Caste system)
  • d)Discrimination faced by the LGBTQ community based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
  • With respect to prejudice the cognitive and emotional component is difficult to change hence following strategies can be adopted:
  • a)Knowing the root cause behind the development of prejudice.
  • For example: African nationals at times are projected as lawless people by means of cinema.
  • b)Minimise the opportunity of learning prejudice by promoting education, information and cultural integration.
  • For example: According to the Bezbaruah committee, sports can be explored to promote cultural integration with northeastern students.
  • c)Engage in direct communication with different groups.
  • For example: Organizing community lunches in order to resolve intercaste conflicts.
  • d)Deemphasising the narrow social identity based on ingroup.
  • e)Discourage the tendency towards negative behaviour among the victims of prejudice which reinforces the prejudice.
  • Please refer to the chart drawn on the digital board (07:18 PM)

The topic for the next class: Continuation of the attitude chapter.