“The theory holds that moral reasoning, the basis for ethical behavior, has six identifiable developmental stages, each more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than its predecessor.” – Kohlberg’s stages of moral development
“Shells sink, dreams float. Life’s good on our boat.” – Jimmy Buffett
1. No VOP: only self and the norm are recognized (blind egoism)
Nibblin’ on sponge cake,
watchin’ the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin’ my six string
On my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp
They’re beginnin’ to boil
2. Sees that a) others have goals and preferences, b) either conform to or deviate from norms (instrumental egoism)
Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame
3. Recognize good and bad intentions (social relationships perspective)
But I know it’s nobody’s fault
4. Able to see abstract normative systems (social systems perspective)
I blew out my flip flop,
Stepped on a pop top,
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home
5. Recognize that contracts will allow persons to increase welfare of both (contractual perspective)
Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame,
Now I think — hell, it could be my fault
6. Sees how human fallibility and frailty are impacted by communication (mutual respect as a universal principle)
Wasted away again in Margaritaville
Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame,
But I know it’s my own damn fault
Tags: developmental psychology, ethics, jimmy buffett, kohlberg’s stages of moral development, margaritaville, music
Huh. I always thought the lyric was “some people claim that there’s a whole world to blame.” Like there were a bunch of stoners on the beach going “it’s SOCIETY’S fault, man” and Jimmy Buffet was just like “Nope. Just me.”
No, he’s subverting the sexist paradigm that women are to blame for setting a man off on a drunk, and subtly alluding to the classic French idiom: “cherchez la femme.”
This is very embarrassing, but until this year I really thought Jimmy Buffett and Warren Buffett were the same person. Like this eccentric billionaire who used to be a singer and is famous for advocating a beachy lifestyle.
That’s okay; I think many people would rather live in that world.
It’s pretty nice here, I have to admit. I also only very recently disentangled Kelly Rowland and Kelly Ripa.
WAS LITERALLY ABOUT TO POST THE SAME THING i thought i was aloneeeeeeeee
I love you.
me too!!!!!
In Jimmy Buffet’s 1970 single “It’s My Job” he lays out the facts of who Warren Buffet is
I got an uncle who owns a bank, he’s a self-made millionaire
He never had anyone to love, never had no one to care
He always seemed kinda sad to me and I asked him why that was
And he told me it’s because in my contract there’s this clause
That says, “It’s my job to be worried half to death
And that’s the thing people respect in me
It’s my job but without it I’d be less
Than what I expect from me.”
The next entry in this series clearly needs to analyze “Escape (If You Like Pina Coladas),” because whoa.
Dammit, not only am I snowed in today but now I have Margaritaville stuck in my head.
See, this is why The Toast is incredible. (Well, Mallory is incredible. But transitively, and also, it’s all over the place here, not just under her byline.) Incisive, mind-opening, and funny as all hell.
Awww, “Delaney Talks To Statues!”
I was raised on Jimmy Buffett. Deep cuts from Off To See The Lizard were the soundtrack to my childhood. I still think he has such a beautiful voice.
My best friend and I had an elaborate choreographed dance to Last Mango in Paris when I was 5 or 6 years old. They’re fun for kids, if your kids don’t know anything about alcohol!
Yeah, my mom did at least gently discourage me from bopping around singing “Why Don’t We Get Drunk and Screw?” I didn’t know what it meant! They were just silly words!
Ha! I was not raised on Jimmy Buffett, but a childhood best friend was, so we had an elaborate choreographed dance to Cheeseburger in Paradise.
this^
I still have this deep, almost absurd affection for his music, plus I've always loved analyzing this song with (…er…and occasionally at) people, and I get weirdly passionate in my need to talk it out with them, so this piece made me really happy.
Toast <3