The Efficiency of Slogans in Regard to Ethics
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The question of concern is: are slogans efficient when ethics is concerned?
In regard to slogans in general, it depends on the slogan and if its empirical or and/or theoretical evidence can back up its hypothesis that forms the slogan or conclusion. However, many slogans are vague or are meant to be used in specific situations and have exceptions. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is a slogan re-coined of Jeremy Bentham (1823) when he explains when people behave as other people do around them (pgs. 8 and 246). Some have successfully used this to save their life, job etc. Others even follow this to save their marriage, friendships, family relationships etc. Even though (behaving as those around you) in the latter set of examples have worse emotional consequences (I believe), there are still pros and cons to each; and each can be argued as good or bad. Many times, slogans can be helpful to get a point across due to the average non-task oriented attention span of a human lasting 8 seconds long (Formica, 2010).
Wilkens point is that slogans are short and are usually summing up a very large amount of information (p.12). When people do not understand the exact meaning behind the slogan, it can be misunderstood. Wilkens goes on to explain how, in regard to a specific person or group of persons religious convictions, a short explanation is not enough to understand its meaning or entire ethical system (p.13). But if the slogan is being used to grab someones attention (or as preachers often use to entice or grab the audiences attention/interest at first, in the topic of their sermon) then they can be helpful. I enjoy when preachers use a vague slogan on purpose so that it causes people to wonder what the explanation will be or might mean.
In sum, “bumper stickers” may over-simplify a very important message, so much so, that the message is lost. This is why we want to listen or understand the meaning behind such interesting sermon titles for chapel, or listed in the bulletin, on a chalk board or on a screen. Luckily these great professors and pastors do not leave us starring at the slogan on the back of a bumper sticker thinking “What on earth does that mean?!”
References
Bentham, J. (1823). An Introduction to the principles of morals and legislation. Oxford at the Clarendon Press.
Formica, M. (2010, January). The paradox and coincidence of mindfulness meditation. Retrieved July 4, 2011, from:
Wilkens, S. (1995). Beyond bumper sticker ethics: an introduction to theories of right & wrong.