Ethics [Thursday, January 24]

[sith_happened]

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?"

"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."

Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

Comments

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[sith_happened]

With your smuggest icon

Re: Sign in!

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny Sparks

Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[sith_happened]

Take notes, roll your eyes (he'll catch you), pass notes (he'll probably catch you)...

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal wasn't taking notes, he was watching Anakin, listening intently.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

Amber was also watching Master Skywalker, listening intently and taking notes.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana listened intently and took very good notes.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew was barely paying attention. He was lazily drawing stick figures in his notebook -- stick figures with cool swirling cloaks, stick figures flying around on broom sticks, stick figures crawling under rocks...

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[withoutverona]

Romeo was pretty much agreeing with the lecture, for once.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

Anemone wasn't taking notes, but she was listening. As the lecture went on, she became more and more annoyed. For someone who had been the very image of wounded pride this weekend, he certainly didn't seem to have problems lecturing people.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[ecirpnellehada.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. The pride lecture. Adah sat there, listening as she copied down the quotes that Skywalker had given (backwards, of course) with a small smirk on her face. At least she knew (hoped, rather) that this time, the lecture wouldn't be followed by the Verse. But, really. Talking a Price about pride was like talking to a wall about wanting it to be more like a floor.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey didn't take notes. She was too busy concentrating on Anakin.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi, as usual, was taking lots of notes.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[absolutesnark]

Summer wasn't taking notes, but she was listening intently.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was taking notes on Anakin's lecture.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt wasn't taking notes. He enjoyed pride, thank you very much.

Re: Listen to the lecture [1/24]

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny wasn't taking notes. More like she was staring at Professor Skywalker in a way that suggested that, despite the fact that she understood all the words coming out of his mouth, they might as well be speaking different languages.

Answer discussion question #1!

[sith_happened]

"Do we have to be humiliated before we can learn?"

Re: Answer discussion question #1!

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No," Karal said, slowly shaking his head. "We learn every day, whether we realise it or not, we take in knowledge and experience." He was deeply puzzled by the question. In his mind, the two had nothing to do with each other.

"If we failed to learn after getting something so wrong that we were humiliated by our failure - and it would have to be our failure, not that of others by failing in their duty to teach us - then that would be a terrible waste. But it's not a requirement."

Re: Answer discussion question #1!

[cantjossme.livejournal.com]

"No," Mel challenged. "It's not always pride. Massive stupidity and then having your ass handed to you usually does a pretty good job of it as well."

Re: Answer discussion question #1!

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"No," Amber said. "I don't understand why we would. Unless," she knitted her brows, "we have set ourselves so high up on a pedestal that when we do crash, it's almost devastatin' and we're humiliated because of it. I would think though, someone like that? Would have a difficult time recognizin' their humiliation for what it was and instead blame it on anyone besides themselves."

Re: Answer discussion question #1!

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"No," Lana said quietly. "You don't have to. Not if you pay attention and listen to what you're being told. But sometimes we just don't."

Answer discussion question #2!

[sith_happened]

"How high do the stakes have to be before we'll admit we've made a mistake, or have been fooled?" Would you have to be threatened with being dumped? Actually be dumped? Bring an entire government to ruin? Hypothetically, of course.

Re: Answer discussion question #2!

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal frowned. "There is no shame in admitting a mistake, and everyone can be fooled by someone, no matter how smart or clever they are," he said slowly. "So speaking for myself, there need not be any stakes at all."

Talk to the TA! [1/24]

[sith_happened]

Hi, Jo!

Re: Talk to the TA! [1/24]

[wannabehunter]

Jo was there!

Talk to Anakin [1/24]

[sith_happened]

Still think he's wrong? Here's a place to pick a fight.

Re: Talk to Anakin [1/24]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

Anemone had decided not to tell him who she was over the weekend. She really really had. It would be mean.

Screw it.

Marching over to Master Skywalker, she drew out a piece of paper from her notebook and held it out at him, a drawing of a glittering golden city from above.

"You weren't 'merely tolerated', for the record. You were a puzzle they couldn't figure out. We...she...likes solid things. Things we understand, like her lightsabers." Anemone tilted her head, watching him. "We don't understand."

OOC

[sith_happened]

As a reminder: active discussion is good. Arguing with Anakin is good, too. Throwing punches = detention and ticking off a Jedi who's not afraid to throw furniture to get your attention.

Re: OOC

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Which, depending on your perspective, is also good. ;D