March 29th - April 4th Question #2

I would have to say that I agree with the rationality, perfectibility, and mutability premises. I think that they all make perfect sense and most people would agree with them. I think as humans we are all naturally rational and capable of making logical decisions about numerous issues. The institutions that are based on this belief are the court system, free enterprise, and democracy. I think most people are capable of being rational but many are not. These people are not widely accepted by our culture because they do not fit into the norm.

The perfectibility premise "is based on the old puritan idea that humans are born in sin but are capable of achieving goodness through effort and control" (pg. 353). I agree with this statement but I also know it has some major religious connotations. I believe that people can work their way to goodness, but I don't know if perfection is possible. I believe that we are all sinners and no matter how hard we work we are bound to slip up, and that is why I think so many people believe in forgiveness and a renewal of the heart. Religious or not, I think many people follow this basic belief.

The mutability premise says that people are shaped by the world around them and because of this assumption, the institution of education is so important to our society. By helping to better someones environmental, physical and psychological circumstances you can drastically change someones life, which essentially helps better the rest of the culture.