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DoYouDoAnythingDifferently 3 - 11 Apr 2009 - Main.KeithEdelman
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| | Inspired by the tough love discussion and trying to come up with an idea for a second paper, I started thinking about what effect this class has on people. Unlike classes which focus primarily on learning something, the point of this class seems to be to get you to do something. We've talked extensively about what motivates people's actions (legal reasoning, social roles in swindling and selling, conspicuous consumption) with the implication that we should use these ideas and frameworks to examine our own lives. Does anyone actively do this? How have people found themselves thinking about and responding to certain situations differently as compared to before taking this course? Have people watched less TV, or made different choices about summer jobs, or approached other classes in different ways? I've often wondered about what effect adding some basic knowledge of psychological or sociological theories has on people going forward, and the experience of people in this class seems like it would be a good study of that.
For my own part, I'll admit that I don't feel like I act or think differently in any significant way. I mostly accept that to a large degree the teaching aspect of law school has been swallowed by the needs of employers and that the "biglaw" firm system severely devalues young lawyers, but aside from snickering at the repeated use of "cast a wide net" at the EIP presentation and being a bit more exasperated at the continuing assurances that it'll all be ok in two years I don't think I really do anything differently. In other classes I don't consider how this opinion is full of legal nonsense or feel that everyone is continually restricted by competitive pressure. This isn't to say I don't think about these topics, just that it seems like when I do it's mostly confined to being in, talking about, and doing work for this class. | | | Let me note, however, that taking action is critically important. Thinking is not a proxy for acting. I need to act on these shifts in my perception, but its good to know that I've started my process. | |
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> | -- RicardoWoolery - 11 Apr 2009
Like Eben's response to the "Tough Love" topic in class, I think it depends on what timeframe we use. I would think that changing one's fundamental view on his/her life is a continuous process. As Ricardo pointed out, this process is not a "unitary reflex." I'd be interested to find out what Eben's former students from, say, 5 years ago are doing/thinking right now.
For myself, I have definitely felt a change in my outlook. From the specific (trying to write more clearly, speak more eloquently) to the general (desire to help people with my life), I believe the thinking is starting to come around. The acting, I hope, will follow shortly.
-- KeithEdelman - 11 Apr 2009 | | |
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