sith_happened: (Anakin: bright eyes)
Anakin Skywalker ([personal profile] sith_happened) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2009-01-26 11:38 pm
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Ethics [Tuesday, January 26, 2nd period]

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."

Re: Answer the questions

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-01-27 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, uhhhh," Hurley said. "Just saying that I don't really... I mean, I'm kind of an easy target for other people, you know?"

Re: Answer the questions

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-01-27 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay, here... not so much," Hurley said. "Most people don't use, like... that one word about me. Or at least, they don't say it."

Re: Answer the questions

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-01-27 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Hurley smiled. "Thanks, Master Skywalker. But... yeah, I still gotta keep what I am... in mind, I guess."

Re: Answer the questions

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-01-27 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Hurley thought about that. "That's true. I mean, I don't let my weight, like... define me. I'm way more than just that."

Re: Answer the questions

[identity profile] likes-chicken.livejournal.com 2009-01-27 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's just, like... fairness, maybe?" Hurley said. "But yeah. Pride is bad, because... nothing good happens when you think you're better than other people."