considering that i finished the kinesiology and health science core last year and considering that anything im taking now is all elective and a means of "specializing" in this spectacular specialized honours degree 'o' mine, i often take this opportunity to take courses that, in my mind, 'round me out' as a scientist.

as scientists, we're always concerned with facts, with empirical knowledge and proving or disproving theories. if there's an issue that you can't measure or control, then all too often, it is the position of the scientist to not give a shit. unfortunately, im a human being before im a scientist (i.e. life isn't always that easily explainable) and fortunately, i know better. not everything can be measured nor explained with a simple hypothesis. taking this ethics of kinesiology course, in addition to last year's gender and sport course adds a nice balance to my life.

all too often, "applied" or "pure" or "hard" scientists, such as myself (but not including myself) and my peers, mock arts(y) or "soft sciences" such as sociology, humanities, or even psychology to an extent, for whatever reason (e.g. to assert their believed-dominance or to mock others in formal institutions of higher learning where they, themselves, cannot succeed or are lacking in their personal fields). this is wrong. coming from a background based in the art and science of human movement, im fortunate and humbled to have fellow kinesiologists in my classes pursuing futures in everything from medicine to sport marketing to teaching. in essence, i feel it's important and beneficial to us, as kine-majors, to understand the finer points of human nature - which is the basis of such so-called "soft" sciences/arts programs.

if you become a dr. and im your patient, i dont wanna be treated like some kind of variable that you manipulate; i actually wanna be treated like a person and not simply, a pay-cheque. that might work for the guinea-pig but it sure as hell ain't about to work on me!

ethical issues were brought about first and foremost by (you) lawyers...then into boardrooms (of you business people)...and now into the world of science. now, more than ever, it's important for all of the world to understand where each and every scientist stands in their position, morality and personal principles. does the dr. do what they do for the money? or did the dr. do it for the love of the field and love of helping others? how about those engineers? they come up with things that are supposed to improve our lives, each and every day..what if they hate their job and have no real love or concern for what they do? in that case, bridge or home becomes a death trap. don't even get me started on how each of us will one day be raising our own kids (or currently are). isn't it our responsibility to keep them safe and teach them what's right and wrong?

nowadays, most post-graduate schools/institutions (such as medicine) interview their prospective students in an attempt to find out where 'they stand'. moral issues are brought up a lot of the time and these prospects are required to follow suit. for such reasons, and the whole big-ass entry i did above, i strongly suggest that everyone either take a course in ethics (if youre not already required to) or at least read up on some of theories and paradigms.

especially for you scientists reading this, it will, along with other so called artsy/soft-science courses, round you out by:

making you a better thinker through your ability to reason

creating more awareness of the world within yourself

building a stronger analytical frame of mind

improve your arguing/debating skills

these are just a few. for now, i'll leave you with those thoughts. y'all just marinate on that for a second.

in the meanwhile, here's my current case study write-up -
The Walden Sportplex Case:

Walden Sportplex is an athletic and recreational centre located in the heart of Centre Town. It was built during the mid-eighties (1985) in the core of the urban landscape. Ten years have passed and the numbers of the clientele have declined since the Walden Sportplex’s opening. Since its beginning various professional and qualified staff have been recruited from both local and international regions including Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. One of these individuals is the Sportplex long-time executive director, Jake. Jake is a former soldier of the U.S. Navy and retired intramural sport director at one of the country’s large universities. Jake’s programming of the centre is very popular among middle and upper-class professionals who frequent the Sportplex before and after work. During the day however, the Walden Sportplex is dormant and underused. Despite this important point, Jake feels that the declining numbers of the centre’s registration are due to the downturn in the city’s economy. In effect, he feels that if things continue to go the direction they always have for the centre, then the Walden Sportplex clientele numbers will improve by the city’s next few economical fiscal quarters. At this point, it is important to note that in the 1970s and 80s, Centre Town’s population consisted mostly of white, thirty-something individuals of European descent. However, since then, demographics have shifted to a predominately Asian population; specifically, the area surrounding the Sportplex is currently multicultural and multiracial in comparison to what it was ten years ago.
Underlying his belief that declining numbers are due to economic downfalls, Jake feels that most of the problem is due to the ethnic teens who hang around the Walden Sportplex after school and during the weekend. Zoe, the Sportplex’s assistant director, believes otherwise. Instead of these ethnic-teens being a part of the problem, she feels they can successfully be integrated as an important element of the centre’s clientele. In turn, Zoe believes that these teens can act a key factor in ensuring a future for the Walden Sportplex. Successfully, Zoe was able to convince the majority of the other directors with this notion. Jake became infuriated by the centre’s shift in direction away from his beliefs. At one staff meeting, he became so enraged that he went so far as to accuse Zoe, who is of aboriginal descent, and her ideas, as a means of “trying to get back at the white man”. This incident was later reported to the Walden Sportplex’s board of directors.

i'll also leave you with the three ethcial theories of judgement we're utilizing in my course: deontology, teleology and existensialism (all western-philosophical foundations that act as the backdrop of my course - so look 'em up if you got time!!!).
choose your poison.

to be continued...