This correlates extremely well with this current year and the social/political movements initiated. People disagree with the people in power and how previous orders have been carried out ( police brutality). These orders lose their legitimacy when its putting the public in harm and "ethically wrong" and riots and movements towards change occur.

• This sounds so cut-throat and dog-eat-dog, but I understand realistically this is how ethical egoism is perceived. Lending out help to someone puts you at a disadvantage, so don't do it.

I feel as though this is very common. Guilting ourselves in to doing something for others because your life and its blessings are so different in comparison and its unfair, sad or rude to flaunt it to others. Part of this is just apart of our social classes and government( but that's a different story). So are we doing this volunteer and charitable work because its the kind and right thing to do or because it'll help us sleep better at night knowing people will take your gifts?

I always say you cant help others until you help yourself. If you're not mentally healthy and well how are you suppose to support others and successfully complete tasks. We'd be moving through life like zombies. The originally intention might not be to our benefit but for some people the satisfaction of helping others makes them feel more confident in their character.

I observe this in our world today through societal norms including "normal" looks and perceptions. Examples of these are hair color, piercings and tattoos. These material things are not natural and are perceived as bad and an image is painted prior to evaluating the persons character or work ethic.

i think about this often. Am I making this decision to prevent a poor one later down the road, is this a mistake made on purpose? Rattles me how I'm still not completely sure where my own thoughts and beliefs are coming from and this section really puts everything into question.

I find this interesting. As asked in the first sentence of this section, how can we be sure this is truly the word and commands of these religious leaders? Which one is to be followed or morally correct over the other? This causes many issues within our world today.

This blurb takes me back to the start of the chapter where it asked " what happens when ethics, law and religion conflict"? I have a similar belief or theory to my personal religious beliefs. Although I do not practice or follow a certain religion I do believe of someone or something in a higher power and that there is a deeper reason behind why things exist and why I am made the way i am. So my question is, when practicing a religion and following either scripture or a book like the bible for instance, how do you know its the actual words of whomever it claims? Are they supported facts or just their thoughts and opinions jotted down and why do we follow it and give it so much power? just a thought that pop into my head time to time.

My questions is, what do you do in a situation in which a fallacy like this is used and you are unsure of the conclusion they are stating is true? Do you question and persuade the opposite direction based on the intention of the discussion or do you assume like this example that conclusion is accurate?

the influence that not only this fallacy but other styles hold on how we win/lose agreements, develop and support our opinions and live our daily routines is tremendous. This specific topic is something I hear often in multiple formats or styles relating to vaccines, x-ray exposure and systemic fluoride specifically in my dental field. It just takes one domino....

This stuck out to me personally as an identifier for anxiety disorders. We are fully capable of making decisions and dealing with stress but instead jump around from outcome to outcome and make assumptions based off what we have already established in our minds, even if it doesn't exist.

This statement right here is exactly what everyone should remember in every aspect of life. Your thoughts, feelings and emotions although they matter and are important, also strike as a weakness and can be turned against you. Allowing your self to take a step back and grow thick skin will aid in admitting our strengths, weaknesses, faults, etc. This in turn will foster more meaningful and effective conversations and "arguments".

Life before and after the COVID-19 pandemic will for many be drastically different in terms of careers, family. education, healthcare, politics, etc. Do we sit here and anticipate and advocate for change to come or assume it'll happen naturally and do nothing?

This ties into practicing mindfulness quiet seamlessly. Discovering what our aspirations and morals are and then practicing doing things with intent and being fluid with life changes is crucial to overall happiness and success. No one wants to sleepwalk through life and miss everything do to lack of intent of interest. Love this metaphor!

This reminds me of the intertwining of biology and natural selection with philosophical ideas and beliefs. The changing of our behaviors and habits form deeper due to our decisions and normative questions as discussed later on in this section. It just makes me think how differently biology would be perceived if we learned this side of the story in addition to the science!