1.) I believe it is more important to perform good acts. When I approached this question, I had an initial question of my own. What defines being a good person? One could talk constantly about how strongly they believe something, but until action is taken there is no benefit to their cause. From personal experience, I believe it is more important to perform good acts vs simply being a good person. Without action there is no basis on which to tell whether or not a person is good. Being labeled as a good person is not necessarily a negative, in fact it is a very positive characteristic to have. An issue that comes with this label is whether or not a person has the ability to justify it. Simply calling yourself a good person without physically demonstrating it, in my opinion, is selfish.  In modern day society people are starting to believe in only what they can see. A person can advocate their cause non-stop, but only empty promises will remain until they act upon their words. For example, one could state that they want to lose weight, until that person changes their eating habits or exercises more then the is no proof that they want to lose weight. Words are tangible, but actions are concrete.

4.) I believe that ecosystems only matter to the extent that they impact humans. Ecosystems have been here before humans existed and they will exist after humans are gone. Ecosystems exist to sustain the life within them. Untouched ecosystems can develop into complex systems allowing for multiple life forms to live, grow and thrive to their greatest ability. Most humans are anthropocentric when it comes to the ecosystem that surrounds them. Humans will use the environment for their own benefit without considering the long term negative effects. Unfortunately, I believe that in our current day ecosystems only matter for the impact they have on human life. When looking at issues based on sustainability and a world for future generations, all views are anthropocentric. We want to save rainforests and maintain those ecosystems not for the benefit of nature, but for the benefit of our children. Ecosystems have always mattered for their own survival. However, humans are not leaving this planet anytime soon, so regrettably ecosystems have to live for their benefit to humans.

6.)  believe that my own life is worth the same as the lives of others. I have never, nor will I ever believe that my my life is more important than that of any other. On the other hand, I also don’t believe that my life is worth less than any other. It is a very altruistic thought to believe that all human lives are equal, but unfortunately it is not a very realistic thought. When it comes to life and death, a person’s virtues and actions become very different. Given the situation of risking one’s life for a loved one over that of a stranger, it is never surprising that people choose their loved ones. This act may seem very selfish because in a way it is, but it is also human nature. It is a terrible thought to have putting more value on one person’s life vs another’s life. From my view, this is the basis that most humans operate on. Though we believe that one life is no more important than another, we will put more value into certain lives. This in turn will dictate our daily actions.