You can be a good person without having a role model

Having a role model probably helps one become a good person, but I don't think it is necessary. You can become a good person through self-reflection and observation. For example, observing events going on around you and reflecting on their outcomes can teach you about morality. Some people in class said that examples like this one, as well as reading books can actually serve as role models, but I think this is expanding the definition of role model too much. I think a role model is a person (and you don't have to know them in real life) who you model your life after and aspire to be like. This isn't even always a positive thing. Deciding what role you want to fill through your own thoughts and reflections may be better than simply aspiring to mimic somebody else. I think we are all inspired by many different people, experiences, books, etc. Most of us probably take little pieces of each thing that inspired us to make ourselves the best we can be-sort of a collaboration of all the things that have inspired us. I do not think this is an example of having role models because it doesn't involve modeling your life after someone.

First Post

This is my blog for a class on Abraham Lincoln's ethics. I am a psychology major at MCLA, but I have taken many philosophy classes through the honors program and as electives. I believe that these classes have made me a better writer and thinker. I am coming into this class not knowing much about Lincoln's life (other than what I read in the David Herbert Donald bio) so I am looking forward to learning more from this class and being challenged by my fellow bloggers.