Ethics [Tuesday, January 26, 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 [January 27]

[sith_happened]

With your haughtiest icon.

Re: Sign in [January 27]

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

Zayne Carrick

Re: Sign in [January 27]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan Girardi

Listen to the lecture [1/27]

[sith_happened]

Anakin's in a much better mood than usual. It doesn't mean he won't drop you into detention if he catches you napping, of course.

He might even do it with a smile.

Answer the questions

[sith_happened]

"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?"

Re: Answer the questions

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

"I've been humiliated a lot without pride playing any great part with it," Zayne said, honestly. "I do find myself trying harder to learn because of that, though. So I guess pride doesn't always go before a fall, but losing your pride can be a good motivator."

Re: Answer the questions

[talks2objects.livejournal.com]

"Well... I don't like the idea of screwing up and usually count on it that I might," Dor said scratching his head. "So I guess I'm usually wary of screwing up and don't take much stock in pride."

And that's when the desk started talking.

"Hey! I heard what you said before!" the desk snarked. "And I'll have you know I'm the best desk that ever was! I'm better than everything! The floor! The wall! That rock! Don't tell me I'm not better than anything else because I am!"

Dor groaned and face-palmed.

Re: Answer the questions

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Man, if being humiliated makes you learn better, I should be a genius," Hurley sort of mumbled.

Re: Answer the questions

[not-fangirl.livejournal.com]

"You need it to learn. Being told and having it happen are very different things," Temari replied.

Re: Answer the questions

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

"I think humiliation is a good way to get people to learn something," Chuck said. He wasn't referring to himself, of course. He never made mistakes. Really.

Re: Answer the questions

[gobrookeyourself]

"I don't know," Brooke confessed, looking a little uncomfortable. "I mean, sometimes you think things are just supposed to work out, even if you just have to push things a little in your favor, and then it all blows up in your face on like, a totally unrelated thing. I think the important part is fixing it, or not."

For instance, if she'd stayed in Tree Hill, she'd be very firmly in the 'not' place right now.

Re: Answer the questions

[notahostage]

"I don't know," Wendy said. "I do know that if you think your plan is elegant in its sheer simplicity, and actually say so, you're about five minutes away from a severe ass-kicking,."

Re: Answer the questions

[intraspective]

"Depends on the lesson," she muttered.

Re: Answer the questions

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

"I think it's important to be open to new ideas," Peter, arguably one of the more stubborn members of his family, said. "If pride's getting in the way of that, then yeah, it's gotta go."

Re: Answer the questions

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"It's not necessary to be humiliated, though on occasion it's rather amusing to see someone else have to eat theri words."

Re: Answer the questions

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"I don't think you have to have pride and then have it crushed to learn," Sookie said thoughtfully. "I mean, I always learned that humility is important, but it's just as important to have confidence in yourself, and to know you're worth something, no matter how small. But that doesn't automatically build up an ego or anything, and you don't need to be humiliated for it to work. It's a good motivator, but it can have the opposite effect, too."

Re: Answer the questions

[future_sandworm]

"It all depends what we take pride in," Leto said, looking tired. "If we take pride in ourselves in comparison to others, then it is likely that we need humiliation in order to progress. But if we take pride in the principles that guide out choices and out judgement, then we might value them higher and struggle to adhere to them." He paused. "But if pride stops us from examining what is in front of us, then is has become a veil in front of our eyes.

Re: Answer the questions

[i_vanquish_evil]

"I know little of pride, but quite a bit of humiliation. The Church is quite fond of humility." Van Helsing, on the other hand, isn't so much.

Re: Answer the questions

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"I've learned plenty without being humiliated," Triela answered, more than a hint of pride in her voice. "And I fail to understand the value of admitting fault even in those rare instances where I make a mistake. As long as I acknowledge it for myself." Not that Triela thought she made mistakes.

Someone might have had a small problem with arrogance.

Talk to the TAs [1/27]

[sith_happened]

Hello, TAs!

Re: Talk to the TAs [1/27]

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

Zayne was here BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE FOR ONCE, HA. If he looked at all worried, it was only because he was concerned that pride might be his big failing. And then he remembered why that was a silly concern and started trying to figure out what came before his frequent falls.

Besides screaming.

Re: Talk to the TAs [1/27]

[not-fangirl.livejournal.com]

Temari was also there. And maybe not looking the most friendly with this conversation.

Not that she normally looked that friendly...

Talk to Anakin [1/27]

[sith_happened]

Hello, Anakin!

Re: Talk to Anakin [1/27]

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

Sookie cautiously approached after class, clutching her bag close to her. "Sir? I brought something for that puppy of yours, if you still want."

OOC

[sith_happened]

Yay, OOC!