Mary Midgley: Trying Out One’s New Sword

What I expect to learn:

To know why “Trying Out One’s New Sword” is the title of the reading.

                                               To know what are the significance of that sword.

Quote: “Moral isolation forbids us to form any opinions on these matters”

                “To respect someone, we have to know enough about him to make a favorable judgment, however general and tentative.”

Review:

                When I first read the title of this reading, I wonder about the sword in the title. It was actually culture of the Japanese wherein, samurai sword should be tested and tried. If the sword worked, it had to slice through someone, from shoulder to the opposite flank, then if it doesn’t work, then the warrior ruined his ancestors and may affect his honor in his place. Mary gave this as an example because of culture. Basically the reading is all about culture. He also mentioned about “moral isolationism” which means that based on the reading, we cannot criticize cultures that we do not understand. He argued that “nobody can respect what is entirely unintelligible to them. To respect someone, we have to know enough about him to make a favorable judgment, however general and tentative. And we do not understand people in other cultures to this extent. Otherwise a great mass of our most valuable thinking would be paralyzed” 

                In my opinion, he’s right about disagreeing this particular statement. I think the quote is true because in respecting one’s culture you think before if it is clear to your or you understand very well the culture. In other words, you have seen of tried a certain culture. For example, in a certain place, their culture is to kill somebody. So, in this culture, I can have my objection and try to protest why they have that type of culture in their place. Midgey also mentioned some questions should be answered related in moral isolationism and examples as well

What I've learned:

    I've learned more on respecting one's cullture.

     I've learned  how to apply isolationsim on others especially on the field of culture.

     I've recognized why there's a "New Sword" on the title. 

Integrative questions:

What is moral isolationism?

How culture related in moral isolationism?

What is the significance of “sword” in the title?