Compassionate Integrity Training CIT-Faciltator-Guide-2.1-Final | Page 137

C OMPASSIONATE I NTEGRITY T RAINING
A S ECULAR E THICS A PPROACH TO C ULTIVATING P ERSONAL , S OCIAL AND E NVIRONMENTAL F LOURISHING
4. After everyone has a slip of paper, instruct, “Look at the category of person who is on the slip of
paper. If you think you are a member of the category written on the paper, please choose another.
Next, look at your system drawing. As best you can imagine you are a member of the category
written on the paper, and you are engaging in this system. On a piece of paper answer the
following questions:
a.
Given the way this system is currently structured, what societal advantages, if any, do I
have when compared to others in this system?
b.
Given the way this system is currently structured, what societal disadvantages, if any, do I
have when compared to others in this system?
c.
How does it feel viewing this system from this position?
d. Would you want to change the system, and if so, how?
5.
After allowing five to 10 minutes for them to answer the questions, instruct, “We will now hear
from each group the different categories they came up with and some answers that individual
group members gave for the questions.” Invite each group to present their answers to the rest of the
group.
6.
After everyone has shared, debrief the activity using the following questions and statements:
a.
“What did it feel like to do this activity?”
b. Explain, “When we talk about compassion, morality, and fairness within systems, one
helpful tool is to use what John Rawls, in his hypothetical conception of a fair and equal
society, called ‘a veil of ignorance.’ In this ‘original position,’ no one would know their
strengths or weaknesses, handicaps, financial status, family lineage, mental capacities,
talents, physical capacities, and so on when designing a system. It would be completely
arbitrary, as it often is in real life – yet often viewed as based off of one’s merit.”
i.
“Not knowing where you would end up, how would you construct a just and
compassionate society?”
ii.
“What would one’s attitude be toward a society where anyone (including you) can
be left behind at any time, while others amassed every advantage, including
unlimited wealth?”
iii.
Anticipating perceptions that Rawls is discouraging excellence, drive, and
advantage, explain, “For Rawls, rather than limiting freedom to excel, develop and
C ENTER FOR C OMPASSION , I NTEGRITY AND S ECULAR E THICS | L IFE U NIVERSITY | M ARIETTA , G EORGIA
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