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  • Activity
  • 20 minutes

Shades of grey - legitimate or illegitimate?

Updated Thursday, 22 December 2016
Opinions differ about activities such as fracking, genetically modified foods or foie gras, often leading to controversy. Are these activities legitimate or not? What do you think? 

This page was published over 7 years ago. Please be aware that due to the passage of time, the information provided on this page may be out of date or otherwise inaccurate, and any views or opinions expressed may no longer be relevant. Some technical elements such as audio-visual and interactive media may no longer work. For more detail, see how we deal with older content.

What is your verdict?

We are living in an age of information battles and polemics in which it is increasingly difficult to distinguish what information is credible or relevant (the facts from the alternative facts).

How we perceive an entity is shaped by that information as well as by the opinions of others and also by norms, values and beliefs. When people believe that a person (like a CEO or sports personality), a company or political party or a business activity (certain methods of food or energy production) makes a contribution to their wellbeing or to that of society at large, they will consider it as proper, desirable and worthy of support - in other words, it will be seen as legitimate.

Try our interactive Shades of grey – legitimate or illegitimate? to explore cases that trigger debate in society. How do you judge the legitimacy of these activities? How is your judgment shaping your actions towards them?

Legit launch image

Select the image to launch the interactive tool

By working through the questions, you will gain an insight into the elements that shape your opinion. You will be able to reflect on your position while comparing your answers to those of other participants. 

This interactive activity will take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to complete.

 

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