The art exhibit.

[Warren Stupidity]

A brilliant artist created a spectacular art installation, a room filled with awe and wonder. She wished to share her work with the children of her nation, and so the installation was moved from school to school.

At one school the principal decided to conduct an experiment with two of the children. Both children were told that they must be very careful to not touch anything in the room, because the art was very fragile and precious and even the slightest touch from a hand could permanently ruin it. The first child was told this, and that she was on her own in the room to take in the sublime beauty of the piece without any interference. The second child was told that she would be watched the entire time by the principal through a hole in the ceiling of the room. Further she was told that if she touched anything she would be severely punished, but that if she did not touch anything she would get ice cream and cake as a reward.

Both children decided to do the right thing, to just experience as best they could the art in the room.

Which child was more moral?

Regurgitated from http://www.pointofinquiry.org

[NeoGreen]

1. Excellent thought experiment...

...I like it.

I am going to steal this.

Is this an WS original?

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Point of inquiry podcast.

April 6 here http://www.pointofinquiry.org

[NeoGreen]

9. Ah..ok...got it..

...in my back yard.

Zuckerman sure can talk fast.
I'm going to have to listen to this more than once.

Thanks!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. the third child.

By staying home and avoiding any fucked up psych experiment, they are purer, more moral, and more ethical.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. indeed.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. thinking outside of the box usually resulted in

the penguins forcing me to kneel in the corner for the rest of class. That, and holding me injured Left paw, after a penguin would use a steel ruler on it for, "Daring to use the Devil's hand."

I still feel a tad of turmoil when I see a penguin in full costume, so many decades later.

[AlbertCat]

6. Which child was more moral?

Neither.



Because the 2nd child didn't believe a word about that being watched and punishment crap.



OK OK Seriously, I get the point. But it kinda sounds like a math word problem.


1) Kala started sinning at 35.6 mph. Roger is being blessed at 28.7 mph but started 1 hour before Kala. How many Hail Marys will it take for Kala to reach the same forgiveness as Roger?

a) 107.02
b) 37
c) Kala is a Hindu so she's doomed

2) George, Amy and Peter are studying particle physics. George has been a church-goer for 18 years, Amy for 21 and Peter for 25. Who will denied Jesus and become an atheist 1st?

a) Amy and Peter tied
b) George
c) None....they go to Liberty University and they don't teach science there.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. Actually the second child is amoral.

As are those who act according to the "rule book" for fear that they will be punished for violations and/or in hope that they will be rewarded for obedience. They are not exercising moral judgement, they are, like the amoral Abraham, just following orders, even if that means slitting your son's throat.

[Lordquinton]

7. really?

[Binkie The Clown]

10. Both children were probably equally moral, however...

The first child was given the opportunity to demonstrate that she was moral. The second child was deprived of the opportunity to demonstrate her morality.

A better test would be to repeat the trial with the scenarios reversed.

[beam me up scottie]

11. I like this response.

Although if the second child was raised in Phil Robertson's household I'd hide the flatware.

[progressoid]

12. ^^^this^^^