Ethics class, 8-10am Friday morning

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara leans against her desk, smiling as she watches the students come in. Some of the faces she recognises, and gives a nod. The room is filled with soft, comfortable chairs, which are positioned in a circle. Each chair has a wooden insert in one arm, to lean on while writing, and each wooden insert has a blank piece of paper on it.

When everyone has taken their seats, Tara begins.

"The first rule of ethics class is that you do not talk about things that happen inside of ethics class. The second rule of ethics class is that you do not talk about things that happen inside of ethics class. Allow me to clarify: you may discuss your revelations, challenge your friends and mock the teacher all you like. But if anything said inside this class is ever used against another member of it, it will mean instant detention. You will, however, have the opportunity to explain yourself before I drag you before Principal Connor. This class cannot function if people are afraid to speak."

She looks around the classroom, stopping briefly on each face. "This school is very unusual. Yes, obviously the squid is a bit odd, but what's more interesting to me is that there are individuals sitting in this room" she nods to Angelus, "who identify themselves as evil. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what the first section of the course will be discussing. Evil, good, and what makes the difference between the two. Your evil classmates have perspectives you need to think about and consider. Don't ignore them in a mistaken belief that they have no ethics."

"Each class runs for two hours. Ordinarily this will be broken up into two sections: discussion and debate - today, however, there will be two discussion sections instead. The majority of your assessment will come through your involvement in class discussions. Every student is expected to participate every week. If you are painfully shy, write your thoughts down and hand them in to me. If I don't know what you're thinking, you don't get credit for it. After this week a formal debate will be held once a week. For those of you unfamiliar with debating, this means two teams of three students taking opposing sides on an issue determined by me. You will each be expected to debate three times during the term, with a week's notice to prepare for each one. At the end of semester a practical exam will be held. This will assess not what you choose to do, but how accurately you have come to an understanding of your own ethical code. I expect you to be honest with yourselves.

Friday and Monday classes are identical. Please feel free to switch between them if you have commitments that interfere with your regular attendance."

"I will want two teacher's assistants for this course, whose function it is to prompt discussion and challenge your thinking. These students will be expected to attend both Monday and Friday classes. Today's discussion will serve as your audition. If you are interested, please say so on your paper, or see me after class."

She smiles. "Alright, enough from me. Here's your first challenge: I want you to identify something you have done in the course of your life that another person might consider to be evil. I want you to explain to me why you did it, and whether you would make the same choices again if placed into a similar situation. You do not have to share this with your fellow students. Throw ideas around, talk about what different people consider evil, but write your final answers down on your piece of paper."

(Second challenge will be posted in the comments below. Discussion will be closed Thursday next week, for those who need to slowplay.)

Comments

First Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

((OOC: Stupidness. I didn't provide a place to put the first hour of discussion. Am new at this!))

Re: Second Hour

[sooo_cute]

Quinn raises her hand. "What if you've never done anything evil? Because maybe I've done a couple things that aren't exactly nice, but I doubt anyone but my si-cousin would say they're evil. Like the time Sandi was feeling all self-conscious because the salon cut her hair half an inch too short and she was easily influenced into bad fashion decisions, and I was a little mad at her at the time so I let her go through an entire day of school wearing last year's shoes."

She pauses. "That isn't evil, right?"

Re: Second Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara laughs. "Evil is a matter of definition. I think Sandi might have thought it was unkind, but not evil. But I'm sure you've done something someone would consider evil. For example, there are many people in the world who consider eating meat to be an evil act - in fact, an act of murder. When was the last time you ate meat, Quinn?"

Re: First Hour

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe enters class and it's obvious she is very upset. When she takes her seat, something falls to the floor. She stares at it like it's going to bite her and then she picks it up and puts it with her books.

She ponders Tara's question and looks down at her paper. I'm a witch, some people would say that that's evil in and of itself.

Re: First Hour

[demonbelthazor]

Cole's gaze followed Phoebe as she entered class. He saw the flower fall out of her books and frowned. Reaching across the space between their desks he took her hand. "Did you get another flower?"

Re: First Hour

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Since I've been here, I've broken my best friend's arm and collarbone, slept with another best friend even though I don't remember it and sang Celine Dion at the top of my lungs. I'm pretty all of those things could be considered evil.

Re: First Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara laughs. "I'm not one to judge your musical preferences, but I think people could consider those evil. How and why did you hurt your friend? Would you do it again?"

Re: First Hour

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*Charlie is very lucky that Elizabeth was blowing her nose at this point (damn allergies) and only caught the end*

I would say it could be worse, but I'm not sure what's worse than Celine Dion *grins* At least I managed to shut you up

Re: First Hour

[janet_fraiser]

Janet overhears what Kawalsky says and her eyes widen imperceptibly. She looks back down at her paper and starts doodling abstract shapes on it, but can't help listening to the rest of the discussion.

Re: First Hour

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth bites her lip. "I was a politician in a past life... evil enough for you? I've manipulated and co-erced people before. It's not something I've ever been proud of, but it was something that had to be done."

Re: First Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Elizabeth, that's a great example. Can you give us a specific instance?"

Re: First Hour

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige sits down and tries to think about what she's done that could be cosidered evil, she's pretty sure she's never done anything that bad. There's only one thing she can think of "I cheated on my ex boyfriend when I met" she bites her lips "an amazing man and I would do it again for the him if I had too."

Re: First Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara smiles, and puts her hand on Paige's shoulder. "Thank you, Paige."

Re: First Hour

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gottahavefaith/]

"I've done a few things in my life that some people would consider evil." Faith shrugs. "And, yeah, I probably would do them again."

Re: First Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara grins. "Could you possibly be a little less ambiguous, Faith? A single example will do."

Re: First Hour

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

"I... endorsed a method of treatment for a patient that left him disabled and in constant pain. A treatment he didn't want, and I supported using legal loopholes to make him receive the treatment anyway. It saved his life, but taking away a person's own sovereignty when they are capable of making decisions for themselves... it is something I struggle with. Would I do it again? I don't know. Some days I think I should have backed an amputation and some days I think... maybe I don't have as much faith as I need. In Hebrew Scriptures that's how evil is defined, a lack of faith in God and separation from him. I guess it depends on whether evil requires a sense of malice, or not."

Re: First Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara places her hand on Lisa's shoulder. "Thank you for sharing that, Lisa, it's an excellent example. Can you answer your own question? Do you believe something requires evil intent to qualify as an evil action? Or can lack of compassion qualify? For example, if a parent failed to check the water temperature of a hot bath, and ended up severely injuring their infant as a result, is that evil? What if the parent heard the child's cries and ignored them?"

Re: First Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Well there was that time that I tried to end the world," Angelus said. "For some reason that made people - " here he shot a look at Buffy " - cranky."

Re: First Hour

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"I don't suppose you hire out to different universes? I've got some world-ships that need ending."

Re: First Hour

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is surprisingly easy for me to answer...

I shot my C.O.

Most people would think that's evil.

But, as I've had to explain repeatedly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

He'd been fed on by a Wraith. Aged from about 40 to about 114 in a matter of minutes. He would have slowed our escape from the Hive and died anyway. It was merciful and expiditious. I think it's the fact that it was expiditious that pisses people off. Maybe that and the fact that it left me as our division's C.O. It looked a little like promotion by attrition... but as I've said, it was an inevitable and necessary death.

Re: First Hour

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Hey, you." Beka smiles, briefly disengaging her gaze from the things she's watching. "I need to get you a phone."

Then she nods. "Not evil. Merciful. He would've made the choice himself, right?"

Re: First Hour

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

During the first hour of class, Beka mostly tries to keep her head from exploding. She catches Tara's eye and tips her coffee to her, wincing.

On a slip of paper, she writes:

Making an alliance with Angelus, not to mention having public sex with him... a lot of people thought that was evil. Or at least stupid. To my mind, it was pragmatic. First, it showed I wasn't afraid, and therefore wasn't prey. It enhanced my stature in the eyes of those who would do harm, and made me someone they couldn't discount. Second, sometimes the devil makes the best ally. If your interests align, there's no one who will be more zealous in the pursuit of those ends. Ours did, for a time.

Then she hands it to Tara, without meeting anyone's gaze.

Re: First Hour

[demonbelthazor]

Being in an ethics class with both Phoebe and Angelus sucked, Belthazor decided. He considered writing down "I kill witches," but decided that might go over well since the teacher was a witch. Instead he just wrote simply, I've killed.

Re: First Hour

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

John wrote his down. After this week, he didn't feel comfortable bringing the past up with a lot of people.

I killed a man. He was assaulting my mom during a convenience store robbery. She was barely conscious. I disarmed him with a broken broomstick with only minor injuries (broke his arm) when his accomplice surprised me. I subdued him (popped his ankle, dislocated his shoulder) when the first guy came back at me with a knife. I killed him with the broomstick in his throat.

Why did I? Because he didn't stop the first time.
Would I do it again? Hell yes. Eliminate the threat. Disarming second guy terminated that threat. First guy was still a danger.

Re: First Hour

[allie-cameron.livejournal.com]

Allie struggles to think if she's ever done anything that could be considered evil.

I stole a pack of bubblegum from a store when I was ten she finally writes.