Readings: Chapter 15 pgs. 547-596(last reading assignment)
DQ # 8 Due Thursday March 13, 2003
Look over foot on pg 407 and Sommers pg 410

*Bernard Mayo
Importance of role models(actual-MLK, fictional-Superman) vs. Kant

Kants Criticisms
*creates jealousy
*lose inspiration when role model falls off the pedestool
*you set yourself up to fail
dfn: adhominen fallacy: attack person not the argument or claim.
*moral behavior needs to be based on doing what the right thing to do is not doing it because someone else is doing it
*inspiration--emotion not the proper motivation for morality which is reason

Other criticisms
*just copying people (Sartre)

Rebuttal to Kant
*You could focus on the positive aspects of the person
*Given human nature role models are a powerful psychological influence
*Leads people to defend bad behavior to keep the role model "propped up"

Negative Role Models
Role models provide validation/support Kant believe in direct principle

Nietzsche 19th Century Died in 1900

He called himself "the worlds greatest Immoralist"
*He says that the things commonly reguarded as bad are good and the things thought to be good/accurate values

Criticisms of God

"God is dead" =Faith or belief in god is dead (due to science)

-Christian morality (morality of the masses will have to be replaced)
-Parable of the mad man. (people haven't caught up in the no faith in god)