Abinta Kabir
Freshmen Seminar
October 21, 2015

Reflective Analysis 2

Respond to these questions: How do I know what I know? How do I distinguish between when
something is right and when something is wrong? How can I be certain? Provide examples of the
ways these questions have played out in your own life thus far.

I know what I know through real life experiences, education, and life lessons taught by
my family members. I know what I know from everyday experiences. For example, I know that I
am not supposed to waste food because I have lived in a country where more than half the
population is below the poverty line. I have witnessed starving children tap at the window of my
car asking for money so that they can buy food. Experiences such as these help you gain
perspective about your life and others as well. Education is another huge factor that helped me
know what I know. Through the teachers’ lectures and assignments I am able to learn new
subjects such as math, political science, English, economics and etc. Their lectures have allowed
me to further my knowledge regarding a particular subject. For example in political science I
learned about John Locke and his definition of a natural man. Inow know this through the
extensive and rigorous reading process I must go through to understand the concepts of John
Locke. Education requires great motivation and drive and this allows me to know what I know.
Lastly, lessons dictated by my family members have enabled me to know what I know. For
example, my mother has taught me how to tie my shoelaces when I was little. Through her constant
guidance and motivation she taught me this skill. Guidance from family members allows you to
understand and learn new things that become a part of what you know.

While growing up I have been taught many lessons from my mom and she has greatly
influenced my perception between right and wrong. I am able to distinguish right from wrong
because of the values and morals she has taught me. In PCE/C I discussed that one of my values is
honesty. Honesty is a very important value to me because if I stay truthful to myself and those
around me I will be able to make correct decisions in life. Furthermore, in PCE/E when
discussing the Heinz Dilemma I stated that I wouldn’t steal the medicine because I would rather
find another method of acquiring money rather than committing a crime. This didn’t go with my
values that’s why I wouldn’t steal the drug for someone who is dying. There are multiple other
options than resorting to stealing. A real life example of when I had to make a decision between
right and wrong was when I was about to lie to my mom about where I was going. I decided
that it would be best for me to tell her the truth instead of lying because it would break her trust
and I would hurt her in the process. Therefore, my values greatly influence how I decide
between something that is right or wrong.

I believe that it is very difficult to be absolutely certain regarding things. However, in order to be
close to certainty it is best to evaluate the pros and cons of a situation or a problem. If you look at
the two sides of every situation then you are more likely to be certain about your decision or your
actions. For example, during a test you are trying to pick the correct answer and must cross out
the wrong choices. You try to remember what you studied and eliminate the wrong answers and pick
the best possible answer. Overall, the answers to these questions are based off of real life
experiences and what you have been taught throughout your childhood.