fandomhigh | Ethics [Thursday, September 27]

When the students came into the classroom, they found Anakin scrawling a quote on the board:

“In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes.”--John Ruskin

He turned around with an eyebrow raised. "Is Master Ruskin correct? How about Master Lao Tzu? He said: 'Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others; and shame is fear of humiliation at one's inferior status in the estimation of others. When one sets his heart on being highly esteemed, and achieves such rating, then he is automatically involved in fear of losing his status.'"

He began pacing around the room. "Does pride always go before a fall? Do we have to be humiliated before we can learn? How high do the stakes have to be before we'll admit we've made a mistake, or have been fooled?"

Anakin wasn't making eye contact with Jaina as he gazed around the room. This topic hit a little too close to home for him to be entirely comfortable looking at family.

"In order to deal ethically with other people, we need to acknowledge this very human flaw in ourselves and others. We want to believe that we are different, better than everyone around us." His gaze sharpened. "We're not. Everything is connected. You, me, the desks, the rocks outside, the deer in the preserve, the annoying person in the dorm who plays their music too loudly. Take pride in being yourself, certainly," he concluded. "But don't for a moment believe that who you are makes you more than the person sitting next to you. Because that kind of pride is where you make your first mistake."

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Irulan nodded, "Perhaps you're right. I confess, I have yet to perfect that skill." Then she smiled, "how is your work going , have you succesfully achieved your goals?"

"My ship is flying." That was one goal achieved; an important one.

"Your ship?" Irulan asked, "which ship is this?"

"Spaceship," River clarified.

"Ah, similar to Professor Skywalker's ships?"

River smiled. "Similar but less advanced. Built by squirrels."

Irulan blinked, "...squirrels?"

"Small rodent of the family Sciuridae. Furry tails." River smiled again, tilting her head.

"Built your ship, your space ship." Irulan clarified.

"Yes!" River giggled. "They did."

"The squirrels," Irulan repeated, she really just can't wrap her mind around it.

River just smiled cheerfully back.

Irulan stared at River for a moment before remembering polite princesses do not stare.

"Yes, of course, squirrels." Irulan blinked then said, "Oh, I have heard you fight very well. Would you care to spar with me?"

"Oh! Yes!" River looked enthusiastic, then she turned serious. "Don't want to hurt you though."

"I need to be better," Irulan answered, "and like this lesson, if pain is part of that lesson then I must learn to bear pain as well."

There was a small smile in reply. Irulan might seem to lack confidence sometimes, but the goals she had had set up for her was higher than for most people. "We'll spar, then."

Irulan smiled a little widely, in another person it would have been a grin. "Thank you."

Ethics [Thursday, September 27]

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