Ethics [Tuesday, September 16, 2nd period]

[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."

Comments

Sign in [9/16]

[sith_happened]

With your most smug icon.

Re: Sign in [9/16]

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope Wilhern

Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[sith_happened]

Take notes, pass notes (he'll catch you), pass out (he'll definitely catch you)...

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

Peyton listened, doodling on the edge of her paper as she did so.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope took a few notes, but for the most part her eyes were locked on Master Skywalker as he lectured.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper listened, but as usual did not take any notes, let alone pass them.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri was definitely taking notes -- and trying to hide just a little bit, too.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[talon-wraith.livejournal.com]

So far, Myn was convinced that this class was going to make him squirm every time. He took notes, grateful that the action required him to look down at the paper more than up at Anakin.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[pyroliz.livejournal.com]

Liz listened carefully to the lecture and took down notes.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[firebringerborn.livejournal.com]

Jan didn't take notes, obviously, but he did snort at being told he had human flaws.

He may have flaws, but they were unicorn flaws, and he sidled sideways a step or two before making himself hold still.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[always-damp.livejournal.com]

Toby listened, deciding that this was just like that time Kevin turned into a zombie. No wonder he hadn't noticed for a while there. He was too hot.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[stupid-toasters.livejournal.com]

Lee, again, took a few notes but, for the most part, found his focus was wandering elsewhere.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

Ella wasn't sure pride was her problem, but she listened and took notes anyhow.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[grasshopper-mol.livejournal.com]

Molly chewed on her lower lip in thought as she listened to the lecture and took notes. Eventually, though, her mind wandered a little and she started doodling tattoo designs in the margins of her notebook.

Re: Listen to the lecture [9/16]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes took notes with a bit of a grin on her face. It had always amazed her how Granny could say "I am not a proud woman" without a touch of irony.

Answer discussion question #1 [9/16]

[sith_happened]

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

Re: Answer discussion question #1 [9/16]

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so," Peyton said. "And I don't think it's pride that usually gets me in trouble. It's fear."

Re: Answer discussion question #1 [9/16]

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes," she answered quietly, glancing around the room shyly. "In those moments, you set yourself up for a fall but you don't realize it because you can't see it. All you see is your goal ahead, what you want to achieve, so you, your feelings, are the only things that matter and you'll do almost anything..." she paused, bit her lip though that tiny, worrisome gesture was not seen. Penelope didn't say anything else.

Re: Answer discussion question #1 [9/16]

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"No," Dick said. "Usually something has to happen, but it doesn't need to be humiliation or hubris or anything like that. You can learn just as well from something good or something tragic that has nothing to do with pride."

Re: Answer discussion question #1 [9/16]

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"Do not have to be," Firekeeper shrugged. "But sometimes is helping."

Re: Answer discussion question #1 [9/16]

[yourwhiteknight.livejournal.com]

"I think it helps the learning process," Harvey admitted. "You're a lot more likely to shut up and listen to someone else if you've been put in your place beforehand."

Answer discussion question #2 [9/16]

[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 [9/16]

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Peyton said. "I think maybe sometimes I'm too quick to decide I've made a mistake."

Talk to the TAs [9/16]

[sith_happened]

Who are slightly more sane than Anakin today.

Re: Talk to the TAs [9/16]

[endsthegame]

After last week's exercise, Ender seemed a lot more settled. He took up a quiet spot of his own. He watched.

Talk to Anakin [9/16]

[sith_happened]

He looked fairly distracted.

OOC

[sith_happened]

Psychic types, feel free to pick up on Anakin's emotions--they are kind of zooming all over the place today.