Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: August 8, 2002
Latest Update: September 7, 2002
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

Introductory Chapter of Moral Textures

Site Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individaul Authors, September 2002.
"Fair use" encouraged.

1. Preparatory readings for module.

   • Teaching Essay for the Introductory Chapter of Moral Textures

2. Discussion questions.

   1. How does Pia Lara interpret the importance of the public sphere to women's narratives?

      Consider that recognition for human success is most often confined to the public sphere, and hence not available to women who are confined pretty much to private sphere. Then consider How Maria Pia Lara's suggestion of recognition through narratives suggests a way to find a toe hold in the public sphere. Why can we not find that toe hold in the private sphere? Consider separation.

      What does Pia Lara mean by the "normative dimensiion of storytelling? (At. p.5)

      Consider her interpretation on p.5 of the "normative dimension of storytelling", that is, that through storytelling the narrator and the listener or reader complete a performative act that is illocutionary when the good faith participation in that performative act transforms both their perceptions of self and other. Each is given a chance to see the otehr "diclosed" and in the process a step is taken toward the possibility of empathy.

3. Experiential activities related to module.

   1. Try your hand at defining the key concepts in this piece.

      • critical theory
      • reconstructive
      • empirical
      • falsifiable
      • postmetaphysical
      • normative
      Define them off-the-wall, as I did. Then check your answers. Try defining them again after we've discussed Moral Textures, Introduction. Did you improve? In methodology, we call this a pre-test and a post-test. Good way to study if you really need to master the material for recall.

4. Self-test questions related to module.

   True or False? And explain briefly why it's true or false. (25 words or less)

   1. The public and private spheres have generally been regarded as separate.
   2. Narratives can be one important source of recognition.
   3. There are many opportunities for women to be recognized as successful in the private sphere.

5. Conceptual linking we had in mind as we prepared the module.

   • Objectivity as impossible to achieve in most social science contexts.
   • Patriarchy and the subordination of women.
   • The role of patriarchy in enforcing differences between the public and private spheres.

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