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Social Constructivism
Uh oh, social constructivism rears its ugly head again.

I recently took some graduate-level courses in Technical Writing at the university, and social constructivism is the first thing I ran into. Basically, that paradigm states that there are no absolute truths -- that all knowledge is derived from discourse among peers. To become an expert, you only have to learn the terminology of the community so that you can converse intelligently. This extends not only into philosophical/religious matters, but into the "real" world also -- for example, the boiling point of water is 100 degrees C only because everyone agrees that it is 100 degrees C. I become a chemist not by learning "facts" about chemistry but by learning the language. The "facts" are significant only in so far as I learn the terminology and "accept" them. By accepting the facts, I become a chemist. What's wrong with that picture?

Declaring that morality is decided by people as a community is social constructivism -- placing the final emphasis upon agreement among the community. It is saying that there is no absolute right or wrong -- only what we agree is right or wrong. Given that, how can anyone say that anything is wrong? You can always find those that will disagree with you. If you don't have an absolute consensus, then morality simply becomes "community standards" -- and we all know how well those can control society's fringes.

If there is no higher, absolute right or wrong, what's the point? Why should I follow your idea of morality? Why shouldn't I come up with my own -- get what I can, when I can, and ignore everyone else? After all, that's what's best for me. In the end, when I die, what's the difference if I hurt anyone else?

Carl Rapson
Posted by: rapson   Posted on: 01/07/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Now another hundred years of FREE software!!!  GRindinAxTaRupy | 01/06/04
right on!  dg mh | 01/06/04
Third motivation...money?  Nigel Johnstone | 01/06/04
The commentary isn't about making money.  Anton Philidor | 01/06/04
Service  voska | 01/07/04
Other Motivations  virtualcharlie | 01/08/04
Free Software  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Not really...  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
true, true, but..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
I think...  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
... but it's not wrong for him to try  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
You can still get paid...  shawkins | 01/06/04
here's two  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
I must have missed...  rapson | 01/07/04
The problem is...  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
Why should Microsoft bow down ... ?  coffeenite | 01/09/04
Freedom is always good.  DonnieBoy | 01/07/04
So what if...  rapson | 01/06/04
Laughable...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Pompous....  shawkins | 01/06/04
Atheism is a belief..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Atheism is a belief  shawkins | 01/06/04
Exactly...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Lets be realistic  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
His moral code come from his work at MIT  voska | 01/07/04
Atheists can argue morality  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
Again..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Framework?  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
Muslim's can point to the Koran. Christian's point to the Bible  NoB$ | 01/06/04
I'm pointing to your stupid use of apostrophes.  hognoxious | 01/11/04
Um...  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
Morality and reason  Mr_Shifty | 01/06/04
Why?  voska | 01/07/04
Social Constructivism  rapson | 01/07/04
You describe society perfectly  voska | 01/07/04
It is saying that there is no absolute right or wrong  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
When will the inquisition begin?  Jill1774 | 01/06/04
"Free Software"  fdcampbell | 01/09/04
Users cannot be free while using a non-free program.  guitar player | 01/06/04
From Stallman's point of view, you are..  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Free doesn't mean without compensation...  Jose Jimenez | 01/06/04
better check the dictionary!  dg mh | 01/06/04
Better take your own advice  Jose Jimenez | 01/06/04
Why demand only free software?  dg mh | 01/06/04
My guess is ego...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Not only software  voska | 01/07/04
Use what you want  FilledOut | 01/06/04
Another Crack Smoker  Zuel | 01/06/04
Home Depot would be the oppressor then  FilledOut | 01/06/04
bad anology  JWatson77 | 01/07/04
You're right,, my bad  FilledOut | 01/09/04
Taking a line from Axe_Grinder: Why all the whining?  Jack-Booted EULA | 01/06/04
Right on...  Delaware Boy | 01/06/04
Completely agree  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
On the other hand...  Jack-Booted EULA | 01/06/04
Absolutely  RedHat9User | 01/06/04
Programming is skilled work ...  Anton Philidor | 01/06/04
Huh,  Patrick Jones | 01/06/04
The principle is simple.  Anton Philidor | 01/06/04
Not THAT simple  shawkins | 01/07/04
Bait and switch  Anton Philidor | 01/07/04
So?  azurensis | 01/07/04
Principles and people  Anton Philidor | 01/07/04
By the same logic...  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
Outsourcing is also efficient  rapson | 01/07/04
With open source, once something is written, everyone can gain the benefits  hognoxious | 01/11/04
Two economic systems at war here...  quietLee | 01/09/04
Since you support free enterprise...  John L. Ries | 01/11/04
government intervention  canibal-in-denial | 01/12/04
Re: government intervention  John L. Ries | 01/12/04
Against my better judgement...  John L. Ries | 01/12/04
Get Rayovac  canibal-in-denial | 01/12/04
personal insults?  canibal-in-denial | 01/12/04
Yes, and programers get paid for most free software.  DonnieBoy | 01/07/04
Of course it is...  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
flawed argument  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
Geez  mikeeemike | 01/06/04
right  JWatson77 | 01/07/04
Win XP costs around 175.00, Red Hat Linux in a store costs about 70.00  NemesisNL | 01/08/04
I support OSS but Stallman is partially wrong  Tim Patterson | 01/07/04
Listen when he talks of freedom  DonnieBoy | 01/07/04
Thank You, RMS  John L. Ries | 01/07/04
Copy Right?  jkasey | 01/08/04
Nix Free - Promote Open Source Software  shanedr | 01/09/04
Mr.Stallman hypocrisy  Ardian Daka | 01/09/04
how do you?  rwgreene | 01/26/04

What do you think?

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