In his book Why We Lie: The Evolutionary Roots of Deception and the Unconscious Mind, David Livingstone Smith states that “scientific research on deception is almost always focused on lying in the narrowest sense—literally saying things that aren’t true. But…our deceit extends far beyond verbal falsificadon. We lie by omission and through the subtledes of spin. We engage in many forms of non-verbal deception, too. We use makeup, hairpieces, and cosmetic surgery to disguise our true appearance; we cry crocodile tears, and flash phony ‘have a nice day’ smiles.” Do you agree with his definition of deceit?
How do you define honesty and/or dishonesty? Provide examples from your experiences or anything that you have read or seen to support your definition of honesty and/or dishonesty.
4. What is the difference between a freedom and a right? Drawing from your experiences or anything that you have read or seen, explain the difference between these two concepts and illustrate this difference with examples.
5. John W. Aldridge, in “Civilization in the United States,” wrote that “we always move, it seems, through a present we do not care to experience toward some future time and place at which real life will finally begin.” Is Aldridge correct. in your experience?
What is your attitude towards the present or the future? Why do you feel the way you do? What factors contribute to your view?
6. The grading system (A-F) has been a standard means of evaluating students in American high schools and universities for a long time, but that does not mean it is necessarily effective.
In your opinion, is grading in high school or university effective? Be sure to support/illustrate your ideas with examples from your experiences or anything that you have read or seen.
