Andrew Genova

Junior Morality

Mr. Sciuto

07 January 2008

What I Learned

In the first semester of Junior Morality, I learned about many different things. Whether it be developing an eye for designing attractive web pages, learning to admit that most issues aren't black or white but somewhere in between, or just enjoying the class overall because it did not try to impose upon me the “right” answer as many theology classes taken in the past have tried to do, I had a wonderful time.

Mainly, I think the main thing that I learned from the course wasn't necessarily from the course material, although I found most of it to be interesting if not trying to force something upon me. The chapters about commercialism, scientism, and materialism angered me a bit because it seemed like it had a skewed view of what it claimed for truth. But enough of that: The main thing I got out of the course was developing an eye for designing web pages. Although I had already had experience building web pages for the SLUH Film Club and Sophomore Summer Theology, I never particularly thought of it as an art form until this year. I knew that I had already done the routine web page stuff before, so I figured that this year when making the pages I would have to excel above what I had done previously. I like to think that I achieved that. With learning new techniques to make a web page interesting (and also Adobe Photoshop at my fingertips) I was able to create appealing web pages that achieved both the assignment's objectives and also could stand as a web page on its own.

I enjoyed the aspect of the morality class that explained that everything is hardly ever black or white, but usually a grey in between. The arguments with John Sinclair only proved to me that some people can't help but see in black and white, and they can't help but try and argue that. Grey areas are where the truth usually lies, though. I think that it is right to lead the examined life but that it should be challenging to live that life. Sometimes I think that it is better not to strive to live a fully examined life, but leave some things left for unexamined. It makes it a whole lot easier. But then I realize that the unexaminedness there will eventually come back to bother me someday.

The final (next, rather) thing I learned, or rather, enjoyed about the course was, for the most part, the logical yet non-imposing presentation of the material. Excluding the chapter on scientism and the like, I think the majority of the course was taught pretty level-headed. I loved how the subject material didn't try to impose upon me what they were saying, but rather it urged (<<< Mr. Sciuto's new favorite word!) me to think about it in the terms presented. It didn't ever tell me that black or white was right, but to think about it a decide what you think is right, here are just some facts or conclusions that you can use to aid your decision. I really liked that, and I think I learned more about the information by studying it rather than it being fed to me.