In his song by this name, country singer and songwriter Brad Paisley writes his childhood self a letter, giving the little guy some pieces of advice based on experience.
Remember the assignment you completed during the first week of this course? You were asked to explore the first time you remember resolving a dilemma in terms of right versus wrong. This week, as we wrap up the session, please revisit that assignment. You are now an adult speaking with the child you were, with the benefit of all of your hard-won wisdom between then and now.
In a short (one-to-two page), informal letter using your Week 1 Assignment’s childhood dilemma as a starting point, please tell the child you were what would’ve helped you then that you know now. Maybe it’s a lot. Maybe it’s not much at all. This is not a research-based essay, as you’ve already spent the past 7 weeks using philosophers and course concepts as support. This one is all you. Be the adult you wish you’d had on your side (or if all went well, maybe be like the one you did have on your side), and take your offering of advice about right and wrong as seriously as you would if you were offering it to an actual living child. It would be a good idea to consult the personal system of ethics you worked on for the discussion last week as you go, to make sure you haven’t missed anything from your own heart and mind that would help.