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

Re: Answer the questions

[i_vanquish_evil]

"I'm well aware of that too."

Re: Answer the questions

[sith_happened]

"Then defend your answer a little more coherently," Anakin replied evenly. "If the Church of yours is fond of humility, say so. If they are fond of humiliation, say so. Don't use both words and think you are terribly clever."

Re: Answer the questions

[i_vanquish_evil]

"My answer was quite sound. Pride is the opposite of humility. To favor humility, one must ensure that pride is not the overpowering factor. However, my teachers took that one step further and utilized humiliation as a means to humility."

Re: Answer the questions

[sith_happened]

"Then say that the first time," Anakin demanded. Reasonable man that he was. "I can see that training had absolutely no effect on your ego."

Re: Answer the questions

[i_vanquish_evil]

"I never said I had no ego. Just that I knew of humiliation." He does try awfully hard not to smirk.

Re: Answer the questions

[sith_happened]

"Do I strike you as the type of man to be amused by how amusing you find yourself?" Anakin asked.

Re: Answer the questions

[i_vanquish_evil]

"Not particularly, no. I was merely amused by your comment. I apologize. I'll sit quietly for the rest of class and take notes."





[ooc: VH is not allowed to make himself get detention every week in Anakin's class - mun should make him write that 1000 x's.]