fandomhigh | 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."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Sometimes mercy can only end in learning the lesson yet again," Temari said, quiet and firm on that matter. "There are rarely second chances where I come from. Traitors are hunted and killed before they reveal anything of our defenses and skills."

"We kept chasing the same former Jedi for the better part of five years," Anakin admitted. "We thought he'd started a war. Turns out, no, he was just another pawn, but it didn't make him less dangerous."

"Everyone is a pawn to someone else," Temari said. "Did you stop the man?"

Anakin nodded. "Not before he chopped my arm off first, though."

"Was it worth it?"

Ah, the important question.

There was a long pause as Anakin thought about it.

"At the time, I thought so," he said slowly. "I don't think I would've killed the man in anger if I had a chance to redo it."

Sitting back, Temari considered that answer. "What difference does it make to you if you were angry then?"

"Because it meant I wasn't in control," Anakin replied. "My emotions were. My job is to bring justice, but that doesn't include deciding to execute a man because I'm having a bad day."

She nodded in understanding of that. "We're trained to keep them at bay in a fight, but..." Temari breathed in once for calm and control. "It can be difficult when it's personal. I'm a leader, I don't have the luxury of letting those things get in my way unless I'm--here."

It was almost relaxing. God, she was going soft.

Anakin nodded. "It shouldn't matter who he threatened," he agreed, "but it's hard to be the bigger person in the heat of the moment."

"Who did he threaten for you?"

"My wife," Anakin replied.

Temari nodded once, looking away to not invade too much upon that. "I can see how remaining emotionless would be hard."

Ethics [Tuesday, January 26, 2nd period]

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions

Re: Answer the questions