Ethics [Thursday, September 17, 1st 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 [Ethics 9/17]

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

Parker really wasn't quite grasping what was being talked about here. "If something's true, I'm not sure why believing it could lead to a fall. I'm a great thief; should I pretend I'm not because that's thinking I'm better than others? Even though I am?"

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[onlysmokesnics.livejournal.com]

"Well, do you think you're the best ever?" Hayley said. She was suddenly very interested in Parker.

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[abetterthief.livejournal.com]

"Not yet," Parker said. She was still learning after all. "But I will be."

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[onlysmokesnics.livejournal.com]

"Then it's not really pride, is it?" Hayley said. "You just think you're good, but you know you're not the best."

Re: Answer the questions [Ethics 9/17]

[findingelena.livejournal.com]

"I think the real problem is that you can trip yourself up," Elena said. "If you're a great thief, and you know you're smarter than whoever you're stealing from, then you might overlook some obvious security measures. You could walk right into a trap, baited with the idea that, since you're so much better than everyone else, no one could possibly trick you."