fandomhigh | The Philosophy of Values: Class #6 - Period 3

As the students come through the door they are greeted with fresh hot cider, tea and pastries. They are also greeted with test sheets and the promised Blue Books.

“All right, you have the whole class period to work on your test. Please turn it in as soon as you are finished and you may go. No talking, no passing notes, you know the drill. Homework is to read Shakespeare’s “Othello” and be ready to discuss in class next week. Good luck on your tests.”

The Test

The test is broken out into short answer essays and a choice of three scenarios for a longer essay at the back.

Short Answer:

1) In Of Mice and Men which character do you identify with, Lennie or George and why?

2) In the first class I gave you the definition of my reality and how it was based on Do no harm. Think about your own reality and define it to me in no less than three words, no more than six.

3) Who wrote the poem I quoted in class number 2?

4) True or False With great power comes great responsibility? Do you believe that the more power you control, the greater the responsibility you have?

5) How old is the debate over Nature vs Nurture? Do you believe it will ever be resolved?

Essay questions:

Choose one of the following to respond to. Try to weave in as many concepts as we’ve covered in class to support your stance on the issue. I won’t be grading on your stance, only on how well you support your argument.

Question 1) Is great power a tool unto it’s user or is it always destined to control the user in the end? [Cite the issues of Nature vs Nurture, Chance vs Choice and Reason vs Faith. Extra credit for also working in Murder vs Killing and the concept of what might make up a person’s reality in such a situation.]

Question 2) Accepting the philosophy that we are flawed beings, map out the role of our environment vs our birth and how either affects our chances or our choices, the role of our reason vs our faith and come to how these influences in our life ultimately help us determine our reality.

Question 3) Discuss the connection between Control vs Acceptance and Chance vs Free Will. Can you Aceept an outcome and still exercise Free Will? If you exercise Control over a situation, does that negate the effects of Chance and how do your choices affect the Free Will of others around you?

[ooc: Handwavey is of course an option though I will glee and probably squee if you take a crack at some of the answers, even if they end up being totally off the wall ;)]

[ooc: ~~Please wait for~~ Now your favorite and mine, OCD threads are up!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

After Blair finished he walked up to Dr. Wilson. "Can we talk, man?"

[not sure if you want to do this here or in office hours]

[ooc: Given the state of his office today here I think. ;)]

Wilson looked up from where he was reading a journal.

"Certainly, Mr. Sanburg."

Blair fiddled with his backpack strap, paced back and forth a few steps and gave a few halfhearted bounces. He wasn't really sure how to start this conversation.

"I'm don't think you're a murderer."

Wilson's expression remained neutral, giving nothing of his inner thoughts away in the conversation.

"How did the rest of your protest go yesterday, Blair?"

That...wasn't quite the reaction Blair had been hoping for.

"It-it-" Blair sighed and waved a hand. "The only thing pretty much sucked from start to finish, man."

Wincing, in sympathy, Wilson gave a small nod.

"I'm sorry about that, Blair. It's...well, that was sort of what I was trying to warn you about. When a protest get's personal, people start looking at the he said vs he said side show, rather than paying attention to the issue."

Blair bent his head and hugged himself at the choice of words. "They start looking at the side show freaks like me?"

Wilson blinked looked quite confused and concerned.

"What?"

"Is that really what you think of me?" Blair's voice was only audible because he knew he didn't want to repeat this again.

Quiet for a long minute, Wilson slowly fit the pieces together and came up with a rather...horrifying picture.

"Blair... No, God no. I was... I wasn't talking about you. I was talking in general terms about what happens when protestations become personal and disintegrate from an informed discussion on the issues to ... well to mud slinging."

Pausing, his frown deepend. "Did you think I was talking about you?"

Finally working up the courage to look at Wilson, Blair just nodded.

Wilson felt gut punched but carefully fought back the urge to be unwell and instead focused on Blair.

"Blair, no...and whatever I said to give you that impression, I apologize. That was never my intent or my meaning."

Blair let loose a sigh and felt like something that had broken yesterday was fixed.

"Everyone said I must have misheard you but you were upset and I didn't understand and I really screwed up and I really respect you a lot, man and it just hurt a lot and then everyone was mad and I felt horrible and it all just sucked and I know I went too far and I'm so sorry." Blair took a couple of quick breaths after that spiel.

Chuckling as Blair began to once more bounce, Wilson smiled at his young friend and reached out to gently clasp Blair's shoulder.

"Thank you, for that Blair. And I respect you, far to much to ever even entertain such a thought. I was...concerned yesterday for you and for your ideals and, I'm sorry I misspoke in such a way as to even give you the impression I might think such a thing. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Then, a little more seriously. "Blair, I'm proud of your dedication to your ideals and I think you have a good heart and a wonderful way of looking at things. I want to see you have a chance to share your message and your ideas with those around you and it was...frustrating to see the good of your intent being overshadowed by that particular tactic you choose. But at no time was I upset at you for being...you."

"What I did yesterday, the sign and everything..." Blair waved a hand to encompass the protest. "It was stupidity born of anger. You're right, man. It was thoughtless and had nothing to do with what my protests were about. I'm sorry I didn't take your advice yesterday."

Smiling, warmly, Wilson gave Blair's shoulder a squeeze and then sat back.

"So, did you end up getting detention or did you escape Mr. Winchester's punishment?"

"No detention, I just had to destroy the sign and I need to apologize to Sam and Dean." Blair nodded. "Which was something I was already planning on."

Which was a fairly fair and restrained response on Mr. Winchester's part but Wilson didn't belabor the point to Blair, he figured Blair was a smart enough cookie to come to that realization himself.

"Sounds like a good over all conclusion to the situation. So...you and maybe River coming over to the apartment on Sunday for bad movies and food?"

"Uh..." Blair shook his head. "Probably not. River's angry at me too right now."

Giving Blair a sympathetic look, Wilson reached out and touched his shoulder.

"Maybe you could use the invitation as a chance to talk to her and clear things up? Trust me on this Blair, don't let it linger, it will just get harder."

The Philosophy of Values: Class #6 - Period 3 - 10/12

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson

Re: Talk to Wilson