Ethics [Thursday, November 1, 1st period]

[sith_happened]

Anakin leaned a little uncomfortably against his desk as he waited for the students to take their seats.

"Today we talk about diligence, temperance, and forgiveness," he said quietly, "and we're going to use examples from last week's exercise to do so."

He flipped the hologram to life, focusing on a shot of Palpatine's face. "The goal was to save this man, the democratically chosen leader of your galaxy, at the cost--if necessary--of your own lives. After the first dozen or so droids shooting at you, you certainly had the option of retreating and leaving the mission for someone else to complete. So when does diligence turn to foolhardiness?"

The holocam switched to footage of two Jedi, blue blades flashing, taking on an older man wielding a red lightsaber. The older Jedi went ricocheting into a wall, then the second one, fire in his eyes, closed in on their opponent who dropped to his knees moments later with two lightsabers held to his throat.

The Jedi wielding the lightsabers looked an awful lot like their teacher.

"Temperance," Anakin said softly. "Do you kill him now? He's dangerous. He held the head of a galaxy-wide government hostage. He injured your partner. He certainly tried to kill you first. Or do you capture him and leave him to the whims of the courts?"

He shook his head. "Finally, forgiveness. You save the chancellor, at great personal expense, only to discover he's not the kind of man you thought he was. Your act of heroism has managed to make the situation at home much, much worse. How do you forgive yourself for it? Can you forgive the others who put you into that position?"

Comments

Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

The man was old, definitely evil, and pissing you off. Kill him?

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[intraspective]

"I'd want to." Ino said, "Definitely. But the mission orders would come first."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

"And if they didn't address this issue specifically?" Anakin asked neutrally.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[intraspective]

Ino thought about that for a long while before finally saying, "I'd probably knock him out, either with a drug or physically and take him home for ANBU to interrogate him. We... don't really have courts in my village."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[solo_sword]

"I'd try to bring him in. I don't think he would have made it easy at all, and I can't guarantee he wouldn't be dead by the time we got back because of that, but I don't think serving up personal justice was in the mission outline," answered Jaina.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

"Can someone ever be too dangerous to be left alive?" Anakin asked.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[solo_sword]

"Definitely. But if someone can actually be punished for their crimes, I'd rather that than outright killing them. If they can't, that's another story, but it's worth it to try."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"No. You don't kill him," she said, very softly.

Aravis might have been having a tough time with this one.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

Anakin noticed the change immediately and moved towards Aravis's desk. "Too soon?" he murmured.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

She shrugged, eyes downcast.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"In the heat of the fight, especially with someone as skilled or moreso than you, you have to fight for the kill," Qui-Gon said. "Anything less will be more likely to get you killed. But afterwards, if the heat of the moment is over, that is an entirely different situation. Killing an opponent who is currently defenceless and at your mercy... doesn't that make you as bad as the person you're killing?"

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

Anakin listened carefully. "And what if someone else tells you to do it?" he asked. "Must we obey that order?"

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

"An order to kill a defenceless man?" Qui-Gon shook his head. "Someone telling you to do something doesn't make the decision to follow through any less yours. I was just following orders is never a legitimate excuse."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

The question was clearly disturbing to River. She dropped her head on to her desk, sliding he hands into her hair. "Yes," she whispered.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

Anakin radiated comfort towards her. "Why?" he whispered, crouching down so she was the only thing he was concentrating on.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"To stop the future from turning worse. But also anger at deeds done and deeds planned." She frowned shaking her head. "Seeing things plotted out."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John thought back to last week's simulation. "I'm pretty sure we know what I'd do."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

"We do," Anakin said. "Given a moment to think about it, would you still have struck?"

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John had given it thought. "Yes."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

Rodney was a bit unsure of his footing on this one. "I can't imagine killing someone if it isn't an act of self-defense. If my life was in immediate danger then yes, I would kill him. But if my enemy was already down, I don't think I could go through with it."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "Do you think they'd give you the same courtesy?"

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[key-of-heart.livejournal.com]

Sora frowned deeply. "You shouldn't kill him..." he said cautiously. "But I don't know if I could keep myself reigned in like that."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

"That's why we talk about it now," Anakin said, "so that when the theoretical becomes actual, you're prepared. What would happen if he died? Not to him--to you."

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka gave the issue all two seconds of thought that it deserved. "I don't know if I could kill someone in cold blood like that," he said, "but I'd have to try."

Courts? Weren't really an option in Sokka's world.

Re: Answer the discussion question: Temperance

[sith_happened]

Anakin leaned forward. "Why?"