Unwind

In the opening of “Part 2: Storked,” Shusterman quotes two fictional nurses that he presents later in the text.

“You can’t change laws without first changing human nature.” —Nurse Greta

“You can’t change human nature without first changing the law.” —Nurse Yvonne

How are these differing perspectives explored in the novel? What do you make of this debate? Which do you think is truer? Is it possible that both are true at the same time?

Teaching Suggestion: Students might enjoy having a formal debate on this topic instead of a casual discussion. Consider having a debate with three sides: pro, against, and both are true. Alternatively, consider having all students argue both sides. You might share the following resources with students to help inform their discussion or debates:

• “Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation: What’s the Difference?” from Simply Psychology
• “The Science of Motivation” from Custom Writing
• “Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development” from Encyclopedia Britannica
• “Law, Justice, and the Holocaust” from The Holocaust Encyclopedia deftly examines how ordinary people and their social and historical contexts led to the horrific events of the Holocaust. Rather than casting blame, the article encourages readers to place the events in context and make ethical dilemmas and the forces that drive human nature more palpable.