Just What is (and what is wrong with) Political Correctness?

Sure, but this is not about rights.

The concern with the self-esteem of minorites is PC.

That's what all these name changes are about, such as the switch from "negro" to "black" to "African-American." It's about the self-esteem of that group. That's PC by any common definition.

Admittedly, there is, I suppose, always a pressure toward conformity in any society, anywhere, anytime. But this period strikes me as particuarly moralistic and sentimental. This society needs a healthy dose of nihilism to wipe its silly smile or its solemn moral pose off its face.

It's got everything to do with it historically. Yes.

There are different kinds of Volunteerism. There is the kind that has to do with patriotic feelings, but the kind I'm talking about is historically related to self-esteem, which is not about patriotism.Your morals and religion have a strong PC element. I guess you co-opted it. Happens all the time with these political ideas.

Well, your idea about loving oneself, which is an important part of your belief system, came originally from the Left, so I reckon you took from there. Actually, it's so much a part of our society you didn't really have to take it from anywhere.This thread is about moral systems. It's relevant.

The meanings are quite different. In the Biblical context, it's taken for granted that we love ourself. However, the meaning you are talking about in your religion is PC-oriented. It has to do with LEARNING to love oneself--i.e., achieving self-esteem.The term "self-esteem" was popularized in the 60s and 70s.

It's a comparison. It's telling us in what sense we are supposed to love others. We should love them in the same sense we love ourselves--a whole lot, in other words. In the past you talked about people not loving themselves and having to learn how. Sounds like this concept of self-esteem to me. You took this idea from the 60s and 70s concept of self-esteem.

There's a little bit more to it than that.

No student will ever know my political beliefs (to the extent that I have any) nor my basic philosophical beliefs. I myself consider that improper in a classroom.Most of the other teachers appear to be Democrats. The young ones, as is normal, tend to be more extreme. There's been some talk lately about "Neo-Fascists" in reference to the Government. I stay away from all this, leading my quiet life of indifference to public affairs.

Most of what is loosely labelled as "literary criticism" in the last 30 years or so has a Leftist slant. Some of it is extreme.Pretentious stuff. It bores me no end.

There is much of this sort of thing in the literary criticism of the last 20 years or so. The literary work is treated as a social artifact that reveals the prejudices of its day. Shakespeare's time was extremely sexist and racist, and this is revealed in his works.

There's also a line of thought called "Queer Theory." The purpose of this type of analysis is to reveal the homophobia in any given work.Everybody has their own agenda.

Maybe so. I'm just saying that this field of academics is heavily oriented toward PC concerns. Edited by robinrohan, : No reason given.