Put yourself in my shoes!

Two posts before, I wrote about treating people like people. After reading this new Savater´s chapter I realize it is not only a matter of respect but also a matter of truly recognizing somebody as similar to you. This is not an easy job.
We might be so blinded by our whims and views that filling somebody´s shoes can be harder than it seems.
However, we should try to understand the situation in full, from the inside; trying to adopt other people´s view points.
In my experience, I sometimes feel that because I think my view is so true and the only right option, I do not stop and try to analyse other ideas.
As teachers, we need to take into account out students´s viewpoints i.e, take into account THEIR RIGHTS.
If one of my students could not come to class, I shouldn't be mad or upset with him but I should try to put myself in his position, trying to analyse the reasons why he did not come: tiredness, job problems, family issues, etc.
I think this is what being open minded means: DO not stick to one option, opinion or idea; DO research, find out motives and fill somebody´s shoes!

Chapter 7, Etica para Amador - Savater

Developing our "moral good taste"

I liked particularly this sentence because I believe it is a process to build up this conscience that will help you decide which things you despise and which others you side with.

I related this "moral good taste" with the snap reactions or decisions we take when a situation shock us.

When I see that somone or even me is not treated "fairly" I cannot help reacting: weather it is disrespect, violence or any kind of injustice that contradicts my beliefs.

Nowadays, students seem not to know or care about how to treat their mates, family or teachers.

As teachers, we cannot just sit there and watch it happen. If our "moral good sense" is switched on, we have to react. We should try to show our students (maybe by giving the example) how to treat the ones that surround you and at least we give them a taste of our "moral good taste".

Chapter 6, Etica para Amador - Savater

GIVE RESPECT. GET RESPECT!

Treating people like people pretty much involves taking into account their wishes, their needs, in other words: giving respect. Showing these attitudes to another person will probably lead to reciprocity; i.e, you will get the same respect that you gave.

As Savater said, because citizen Kane gave no respect to the people surrounding him, he got no respect at all so for that he felt empty.

We feel empty, upset or even sad when we perceive that people is disrespectful to us. I think this has to do with us feeling little, less in front of others. In my experience as a teacher, I sometimes feel like my students are disrespectful to me but I still do not "lose hope" and I keep on giving my respect to them.

I think that to treat people like people is important to think about how we like to be treated and implement those thoughts in our everyday-relationships: at work, at university, at home, etc.

Even if you still do not get the respect you expected (despite you efforts), you still have that person´s respect that follows you everywhere: YOU!

In my life, I try to give and show respect for others: my teachers, my mates, my coworkers and of course to my students.

Even if you feel you are not being treated with respect, you should not give up. Keep on giving the example, showing that in our world we treat people like people (or at least it should be our ultimate goal, don´t you think?)

Chapter 5, Etica para Amador - Savater

Setting our priorities

As adults, we often think that we know our priorities, we know what comes first in our lives and what comes next. We think that we give full attention to those thinks we most appreciate and give less attention to the other things that come after in "our list".
In my opinion, this is not what actually happens.
We WANT to think this is what we do when, in fact, we end up giving most of our attention to the items of the bottom of our list.
As teachers, for example, setting our priorities (or even our expectations) towards what we are going to teach to a new class is extremely important.
Some groups need to build up confidence before plunging into the simple past, others live in a situation where respect, new opportunities and help are more suitable to offer or teach than the use of can/can´t.
What I mean is: let´s try to start being open-minded, to see the broader picture of a situation and finding out our students´needs. That will help us set our priorities straight ahead.
Chapter 4, Etica Para Amador - Savater

Being good, an universal definition?

Who can say somebody is good or bad? In what sense? What "good" really means?
There are more than one answer to these questions. The definition of this word constantly changes according to the environment where the situation is set.
In the example of Savater, the Nazi officer that killed the Jewish in Awshuitz was a very good officer from his superior´s point of view but not so much from the point of view of the families of those Jews that were killed.
Many people may say that this officer was just following orders and that it was not his fault (otherwise he may have been killed as well) but I think that this kind of thinking is an easy way out.
It is easier to blame somebody else, "wash your hands" and put the responsibility on others but we are no children. As adults, we have the ability to choose, despite what anyone can order us to do.
That is why, my motto is: "think twice, no regrets later". In the above example, the 1st thinking process may have involved only but to follow the superior´s instructions. But, if there were any 2nd thinking process, it would have probably involved the officer´s reflection on what he is really doing; that is to say, killing innocent people. If those 2nd thoughts existed, the outcome would be probably different.
Before we perform an action is important to think twice. The 1st thoughts are always made out of impulse but the 2nd ones involve reflecting and analysing which is the best way to perform a specific action. After finishing those two thinking processes, the choosing part is easier: you know that you are deciding consciously and carefully, taken into account what your mind and your heart tell you to do, so, in that way, there cannot be any regrets later on.
Chapter 3, Etica para Amador - Savater

Choices: Conditioned by the circumstances

Decision making is not simple. We are constantly conditioned by the circumstances surrounding the problem. For example, if , as a teacher, I was offered a job in a place where I would get a better salary than where i am working now, should I take it? I would have to leave my students in the middle of the year knowing that is difficult to start learning with a new teacher that uses other ways of teaching.
Making a choice would be a lot easier if we were selfish. We would probably think only but ourselves, believing that the only choice would be to change jobs because you would get more money and that would help you a lot. However, the truth is a lot different than that.
Maybe because I was taught not only to think of me but also to think of others as well. Unconsciously, I think about my future and the future of the ones that surround me.
In the end, choosing becomes tougher because you know that you cannot please everyone and at least one of the people involved will be unsatisfied.
As I said in the previous post, the key element in decision making is to consider every aspect of the situation and stick to a choice that you feel pleased and happy with (Even if that involves other consequences).

Choosing is an arduous and (sometimes) painful job, but choosing wisely and with consideration makes it easier!
Chapter 2, Etica para Amador - Savater

Not everything is black or white...

When it comes to making decisions about a controversial issue, there are more than one answer to the dilemma. If, for example, an adolescent is being violated in the corner of the street and you are watching, the simpler answer would be to get involved and help her because you think that if you were in that situation, you would want someone to do the same for you. On second thoughts, you know that if you get involved, you could get hurt in the end. So, what should we do? Help a stranger or help yourself?
There is not a right or wrong answer to this problem but we should try to choose wisely, taking every aspect into account. Even though we do have the freedom to choose, it is impossible not to let our feelings interfere with our decisions. Each decision we make will help as grow as a human being and also help us shape our personality.

Savater said that we are free to try anything we want even though that does not mean achiving it. In the case of our profession, for example, we teach because of a particular reason: trying to make the world better, helping the ones that are not in a very good economical situation, passing on knowledge, etc. If the reasons for teaching were accomplished so much the better. However, the fact that we try and put our soul in it makes it all worthwhile.

Making decisions, choosing what path to take, shapes our lives. It doesn´t matter if you make mistakes in the way; those mistakes are part of the experience of growing.

Chapter 1 - Etica Para Amador, Savater