http://brambless.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
brambless.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2005-10-14 09:09 pm
brambless.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2005-10-14 09:09 pm
Entry tags:
Ethics class, 8-10am Friday morning
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.)
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.)
Re: Second Hour - additional question (extra credit)
"No. It's not right to kill a vampire or a demon for what they were born as. It's not something they chose to be. It's who they are. You cannot kill any creature for what they were born as. That would be murder. A child born as a demon deserves the chance to see what path they would follow."
Re: Second Hour - additional question (extra credit)
Re: Second Hour - additional question (extra credit)
I'd kill anything that fit into the categories under which I said I would kill a human.
If I'm in direct danger, if someone I care about is in direct danger, I don't care what I'm aiming at, it's going down.
If it's categorically dangerous, but not immediately threatening, I would remain wary, but I wouldn't shoot on site. "It's what I do" isn't a defense. If that were the case then we should just send all the surfers off to be shark meat, because eating things (like surfers) is 'what they do'.
There can be exceptions to the 'dark and dangerous by default' groups and wouldn't it suck to be the one who got carried away with the killing just to find out that they may have fit into a 'consider me dangerous' category, but were actually on your side?
I actually met a little Wraith girl who served tea and cookies. She wasn't a threat to me... well, mostly... when that changed, my perspective changed, but that's a long story and not the point here.
Oh, here's an example... anyone ever watch "Forever Knight?" Nick was a 'good' vampire who helped his community. There's no reason to kill him, because he's no danger to me or mine. However, LaCroix... if he showed up hungry and made any kind of move for my neck... staking him. I don't care if it's 'what he does'.