A Dliemna
I thought I'd take the time off from studying to discuss my current dilemna, which is related to my upcoming final exams.
I only have three final exams this semester, as I only have three classes--which is a different story itself--and these finals will be taken on next week monday and tuesday. The exams alone, however, aren not the problem. The real problem is Saturday. The reason for which is, on this coming Saturday, my sister's college graduation will be taking place at Western Michigan. Consequently, the dilemna I'm facing is: go to the graduation and try to study on the ride to campus, and during any other time I'm free there, or stay home and study in the way I'll be most productive. If I were fully confident that I could pull off the former effectively, I'd be up there even if she begged me not to. Contrary to what many would believe, it is within my self-interest to witness the ceremony first-hand, but unfortunately my studies take priority.
Aside from my little brother, who isn't of much importance because he seldom offers differing views from my own, my family has, on numerous occasions, described the importance of being at this ceremony, and think it is within my limitations to do well on my upcoming exams as well as attend the ceremony. Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to think my family has a grasp on who I am, their grip on that subject is very loose (once again, aside from my little brother), which, I stress, is not to say I'm a very complex or often "misunderstood" individual. Because they think I can manage this dilemna so that the outcome favors both sides, they believe my notions of denying that solution's certainty is simply showing a lack of care for my sister through excuses.
Time is running short, unfortunately, so with the hope of at least having a mutual understanding of my concerns within my family, arguing this subject is not an option. Now the decision, disregarding approval, is solely upon me, so I've attempted to deconstruct this dilemna, defining it into the model of conflict of self-interests. My sister's self-interest, for a number of reasons which will in a moment become relavent, is having me attend her graduation ceremony. My self-interest is unattending the ceremony so, what I feel, will allow me to utilize the time for a necessary full day of studying. I've attempted to take these two self-interests, and stepped away to analyze them from an unbiased perspective.
The two self-interests, which I will label as A and B, with the former being A, and the latter being B, must now be weighed on a scale of importance, as I've decided that the attempt of satisfying both will most likely only satisfy A.
The satisfying of A, of course in my opinion, is simply fulfilling a need of feeling equal, or more likely important, because it displays one individuals self-interest as witnessing an event which is glorifying said individual. This feeling of being equal or important can create, among many other things, the idea of having a higher status in the dominance hierarchy, which can lead to new behavior which can possibly raise the "fitness" of the individual in nature.
The satisfying of B is fulfilling one of many similar goals, which will allow the individual to continue on with one of his or her more apparant, and ultimate self-interest, namely the individuals role he or she has decided will most effectively suit him or her in nature.
Both A and B seem to fulfil common needs, the question however, is the relative importance of each. As of now I'm thinking that B is more important, because the interest being fulfilled seems to cover a rather broad interest, which will ultimately fulfil more interests of the individual, but I must also take into the account the interests of others outside the two said individuals. Hopefully, for times sake, a conclusion will come soon.
I only have three final exams this semester, as I only have three classes--which is a different story itself--and these finals will be taken on next week monday and tuesday. The exams alone, however, aren not the problem. The real problem is Saturday. The reason for which is, on this coming Saturday, my sister's college graduation will be taking place at Western Michigan. Consequently, the dilemna I'm facing is: go to the graduation and try to study on the ride to campus, and during any other time I'm free there, or stay home and study in the way I'll be most productive. If I were fully confident that I could pull off the former effectively, I'd be up there even if she begged me not to. Contrary to what many would believe, it is within my self-interest to witness the ceremony first-hand, but unfortunately my studies take priority.
Aside from my little brother, who isn't of much importance because he seldom offers differing views from my own, my family has, on numerous occasions, described the importance of being at this ceremony, and think it is within my limitations to do well on my upcoming exams as well as attend the ceremony. Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to think my family has a grasp on who I am, their grip on that subject is very loose (once again, aside from my little brother), which, I stress, is not to say I'm a very complex or often "misunderstood" individual. Because they think I can manage this dilemna so that the outcome favors both sides, they believe my notions of denying that solution's certainty is simply showing a lack of care for my sister through excuses.
Time is running short, unfortunately, so with the hope of at least having a mutual understanding of my concerns within my family, arguing this subject is not an option. Now the decision, disregarding approval, is solely upon me, so I've attempted to deconstruct this dilemna, defining it into the model of conflict of self-interests. My sister's self-interest, for a number of reasons which will in a moment become relavent, is having me attend her graduation ceremony. My self-interest is unattending the ceremony so, what I feel, will allow me to utilize the time for a necessary full day of studying. I've attempted to take these two self-interests, and stepped away to analyze them from an unbiased perspective.
The two self-interests, which I will label as A and B, with the former being A, and the latter being B, must now be weighed on a scale of importance, as I've decided that the attempt of satisfying both will most likely only satisfy A.
The satisfying of A, of course in my opinion, is simply fulfilling a need of feeling equal, or more likely important, because it displays one individuals self-interest as witnessing an event which is glorifying said individual. This feeling of being equal or important can create, among many other things, the idea of having a higher status in the dominance hierarchy, which can lead to new behavior which can possibly raise the "fitness" of the individual in nature.
The satisfying of B is fulfilling one of many similar goals, which will allow the individual to continue on with one of his or her more apparant, and ultimate self-interest, namely the individuals role he or she has decided will most effectively suit him or her in nature.
Both A and B seem to fulfil common needs, the question however, is the relative importance of each. As of now I'm thinking that B is more important, because the interest being fulfilled seems to cover a rather broad interest, which will ultimately fulfil more interests of the individual, but I must also take into the account the interests of others outside the two said individuals. Hopefully, for times sake, a conclusion will come soon.
posted by The Author at 11:59 PM
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