Columnist: Dezarae Garnett

In our first stop in together we talked about the ways in which we define ourselves. Hopefully the next time someone asks ,”What are you” the answer will come more easily. But as John Donne reminds us, “no man is an island entire of itself”. We are all part of something. We are all part of families, of chance or choice. We are all part of a society, a community of thinkers in kindred philosophical schools. We’re always interacting with others; they are always interacting with us. So let’s turn our focus outward now.

Can we talk for a moment about our views of others? After all, what is the point of understanding ourselves if we understand no one else?

To facilitate the most engaging and enriching dialogue we're going to lay down some ground rules:

* We will not accept as valid any argument that designates any group or individual(s) superior to others. It's early days yet, but we will certainly discuss this more later.

* We will assume that all humans have basic needs and that among these are breathable air, potable water, nutrient rich food, basic sanitation infrastructure, physical rest, freedom from bodily injury, mental rest/relaxation, the right to community belonging. While it's in no way perfect, review the Universal Declaration of Human Rights if you'd like a basic starting point.

* Because all people are equal and have the same basic needs, we will also assume that these needs are not altered, cannot be forfeited, and cannot be revoked.

Thanks for reading and Happy Thinking!

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If you’d like a little background on these rules check our handy resources:

http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/ - United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/our-hierarchy-needs - Psychology Today, Our Hierarchy of Needs: Why true freedom is a luxury of the mind by Dr. Neel Burton

Thinking deeper still? Here are some Class Pet Readings:

Human Dignity by George Kateb (http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674284173)

Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World by H. H. Dalai Lama

The Desire to Know Each Other, Becoming Wise by Krista Tippett with Elizabeth Alexander

What Are We and What Do We Need: Examining UBI Part 1

Columnist Dezarae Garnett