This essay focuses on acceptance of cultural and societal norms. Thought papers are not intended to be a venue for the recurrent affirmation of a system

acceptance of cultural and societal norms

more for the coherence of your ideas than for the actual truth of the arguments. Thought papers are not intend to be a venue for the recurrent affirmation of a system of belief (e.g., theory, science, religion), but to make reflections on the assigned reading from your point of view and incorporating different perspectives. For this reason, we ask you to avoid making each thought paper a repetition of the ideals you believe in and an opportunity for self-affirmation. It’s perfectly fine to write a critique of the reading or write something that we disagree with.

We prefer a good argument to agreement for the sake of agreement. Whether you agree or disagree with the points made by the author(s), it will be important to make your thinking process and how you arrived at proposals and conclusions. If you suggest a new avenue for research, explain why this research avenue seems fruitful. Make arguments and evidence clearly, and distinguish speculation from ‘fact’ (include both).The diagram below illustrates the influences on us that result in our behaviour and whether that resulting behaviour is ethical. The diagram first outlines the sources of our beliefs. It then shows the relationship between the beliefs and values to our attitudes and our resulting behaviour.

A belief can come from different sources, including:

• a person’s own experiences or experiments
• the acceptance of cultural and societal norms (e.g. religion)
• what other people say (e.g.education or mentoring).