Humanities Homework Help

Write two discussion questions using the examples given below. do not rewrite it bring up your own points to the argument.

DISCUSSION A

I thought looking at Bordieu’s research project was really interesting and a sort of holistic way to contextualize the factors of social mobility. The idea that we are subconsciously categorizing one another based on surface-level factors and the impact that those categorizations can have on our perception and our ability to have social mobility is really interesting. I think the categories that Bordieu was looking at when conducting this project, family history, accent, cultural education, etc., encapsulate many of the same qualities and ideas we would look at if we were doing the same project today which I think adds a bit of continuity to the overall ideas and factors that drive social mobility. In my opinion, this in some ways can point back to the ideas of Locke in that our historical patterns are the framework for today’s thinking so I enjoyed being able to draw some parallels in the themes and theories we’ve been learning so far.

DISCUSSION B

In theory, capitalism can be made environmentally friendly through a series of structural changes to the market, consumption habits, and the global economic system. For example, newer, greener technology can be incorporated into production methods and products to battle environmental degradation. Similarly, altering consumption habits to produce less waste and to promote reuse and recycling can be useful. In the views of sustainable growth and sustainable development, capitalism can become environmentally friendly by raising other countries out of poverty which would supposedly lead to higher environmental awareness and a market-based consumption that would be less environmentally harmful.

However, in order to achieve these changes, the system would be altered to such a degree that it would no longer resemble capitalism as we recognize it. So in practice, capitalism cannot be made environmentally friendly. Although capitalism’s basis on continual growth does allow for the development and incorporation of environmentally friendly technology, by the time this technology is put into practice and widely available, it may be too late to reverse the harm that has been going on. At the point that we are at now with climate change, CO2, and pollution among other issues, we cannot count on the invention of hypothetical technology that can be more environmentally friendly than what we have today. Along with having green technology as a part of the production, we would also have to work on reversing environmental degradation which would add to the pressure. Furthermore, implementing these changes would likely face major resistance from governments, capitalists, and some parts of the public in certain countries. To achieve the aforementioned, more regulation of the market, increased taxes, and decreased choices available in the market would occur. Also, to help bring people out of poverty, interventions can be made such as improved education services and healthcare coverage. This would lead to some opposition of those who are well-off and value having more choices in the marketplace. Those who benefit from the current system of capitalism and are in power would also be resistant to change as they are already profiting from the circumstances as is and would have no reason to change. Governments would also be hesitant to support these necessary shifts because there is a common belief that the government should take a “hands-off” approach to the market. Many people in democratic countries such as the United States are very apprehensive of increased governmental involvement and changes to capitalism as it signifies, to them, a threat to their personal liberties. There is also no guarantee that people who rise out of poverty will be more environmentally conscious. Growth could possibly lead to increased consumption from these individuals.

Besides the purely environmental issues, there would remain problems with fairness and inequality that plague capitalism. Environmental injustices around the world would have to be addressed to achieve improved environmental health and treatment of people in the Global South. These shifts would be very difficult to make under capitalism as we know it today.