Abstract:
Corrinne Bedecarré is a philosopher of French and Irish heritage. Storytelling, socializing and literature are integral to her life and these cultures. They also bring with them their share of complex relationships with the fruit of the grape and the nectar of hops. As a mother, auntie and college professor, Bedecarré has been painfully and personally aware of the extreme dangers which current drinking practices bring. After determining that binge drinking wasn’t just an extended family systems problem, Bedecarré has been thinking about ways that philosophy can contribute to the contemporary discussions and problem solving about effective approaches to alcohol, especially for the young.
The focus of those inquiries has been her search to provide a viable response to the question:
Do we have an ethical responsibility to teach our young people how to drink?
Presenter Bio:
Bedecarré received her undergraduate philosophy degree at Sonoma State University in California where she, as an undergraduate, helped to organize critical thinking conferences which have continued with great success. Longtime member of the Society for Women in Philosophy, Midwest Division, Bedecarré received her Master’s and Doctorate from the University of Minnesota. A California transplant, she spent her sabbatical, 2007-2008, reviewing applied ethics in Marin County, California.
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I wonder whether there is a difference, and if this has been or could be shown via empirical studies, between households wherein children are raised with mild exposure to alcohol and households wherein alcohol is stigmatized and/or not discussed at all. My own (very empirical) observational study of the families I grew up with indicated that when alcohol was stigmatized, as soon as kids were old enough to go to college they drank heavily. In homes where alcohol was discussed openly and children even had the chance to "sample" alcohol at various times throughout their childhood, the attitude of these children, with regard to drinking, upon reaching adulthood was much "healthier". Again, obviously, my "study" is not very conclusive, nor reliable.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar empirical impression as Maram but it would certainly be very interesting to know the conclusions of any such study. I would also like to know if there is any scientific measure of alcoholism. What is the difference, if any, between a person who drinks a glass or two of wine or beer during dinner and the one that drinks a glass of rum or vodka every morning during breakfast?
ReplyDeleteYou might want to take a look at the Mayo Clinic website about alcoholism. I have included the linke here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcoholism/DS00340
ReplyDeleteThere's a "tests and diagnosis" tab that is interesting.
According to a new study a glass of wine each evening is enough to increase your risk of developing cancer. See the news at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7906355.stm
ReplyDelete