fandomhigh | Friday Ethics Class #2, 8-10am

Entry tags:

debate,
ethics

Friday Ethics Class #2, 8-10am

Tara looks excited, as students trickle in, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet.

"Okay, we've got a lot to get through today. Two announcements to start:

First, Teacher's Assistants have been chosen. I have a carrot - Major K! - and a stick - Angelus. If you're having trouble grasping a concept, talk to Major K!. He'll guide you through the thinking. If you think you've got a hold on it, talk to Angelus. He'll challenge your thinking, give you the opportunity to clarify your position.

Second, and related to the latter - this class is not an easy A. At some point in this course you will find yourself challenged and confronted. For many of you, that will be today. If you walk out of this classroom before class is over, and without checking it with me, I may be understandably upset. However, I recognise that if you get angry or upset, you may need some time alone, or away from the group. To that end, I present to you the ~~Emo Closet~~ Time Out Room." She walks to the back of the classroom and opens the door to what previously was a supply cabinet. Inside is what looks very much like a white padded room. "This room is soundproofed. You can cry, scream and punch things all you want, and I will not penalise you for leaving the class or the discussion. Major K! or I will come to check on anyone who goes to the ~~Emo Closet~~ Time Out Room, in case you need help or support. Feel free to tell us to leave you alone.

Now, we've got our first debate to hear, a discussion topic to... um, discuss, and your first out of class assignment. ~~Which you are going to kill, or at least seriously maim, me for giving you.~~

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"Nothing that I remember," Cameron snaps but avoids going any deeper in on it. "And that's easier said than done. If a person grows up in a society that condones slavery, they will accept it and not even consider that it might be wrong."

"You're currently living in a world where a lot of people eat meat," Angelus pointed out. "You're telling me nobody's thought of becoming vegetarian?"

Cameron shook his head. "No, I'm not but you of all people should know that the concept of vegetarianism is a recent development in the western society. It took centuries before the concept of slavery died. It's still not completely gone. And I wouldn't compare sentient beings to animals, no matter how much I love my dog."

"Actually I of all people know that vegetarianism isn't a recent development," Angelus replied. "You think everyone can afford to keep and kill a cow? But let me ask you this: if it's so wrong for one person to tell another what to do, why do you get to decide for somebody else that they shouldn't be a slave?"

"I don't," Cameron answered simply. "But I wonder how many people enter it willfully when they are fully informed about what it means."

"Aha," Angelus said. "You see? Separate issue. Slavery does not mean one single thing to all people or cultures."

"Sure and everything's relative. Doesn't suddenly mean it's going to be a good thing for anyone here. I don't see a lot of people jumping at the chance to be a slave."

Angelus quirked an eyebrow at him. "Besides me? (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhigh/251737.html?thread=12111705#t12111705)"

"Exception to the rule?" Cameron couldn't help but grin.

"I often am," Angelus grinned back. "But even so, that is the point of the entire assignment. People have preconceived notions about what it means to be a Master and to be a slave. You can't form an opinion about something without truly understanding it. Now are your beliefs about slavery so fragile that a class assignment could shatter them utterly?"

"I dont think that any sort of assignment is suddenly going to change my mind onf that fact that slavery is not a good thing." He tilts his head and then continues softer. "I spend two days walking after someone without having any control over my actions and trying to physically harm my friends. I'm not about to go order someone else around, safeword or not."

"There's a curse that can make me do things which, believe you me, are against my will," Angelus said, not without sympathy. "I know the feeling. But that also means I know the difference. Not to keep the conversation firmly in the gutter ~~though why not?~~ but when I'm having sex with somebody both of us know if the other one is being raped. What we don't do is stop having sex because rape happens in the world and it's unpleasant."

Cameron blinks. "I'm sorry, but you completely lost me, mate."

"Let's try another example then," Angelus said. "You have any military experience?"

"No, but I'll join up when I get out of here."

"Fair enough," Angelus said. "So you expect to take orders?"

Cameron grinned and shook his head. "I do and I expect that I won't agree with all of them, but it will be my job to follow up. And before you continue, there's a difference between an adult agreeing to following orders from someone and a person being forced to do someone without ever getting asked to do so."

"Exactly," Angelus said. "And it's that very difference which means that some forms of slavery are less evil than others."

"Right, shades of grey and all that." Cameron shrugged. "But a shade lesser evil is still evil."

"Wearing white after Labor Day is evil to some folks," Angelus said. "At some point we do cross the line from total evil to things we just disagree on. Why is giving orders to someone who wants orders an evil thing?"

"Because usually with slavery that contract where you actively decide to follow orders is missing?"

"Sometimes, not always," Angelus said. "The exercise here is understanding the dynamic when that contract is there. Not that having that contract necessarily makes it easier."

Cameron sighed, "I still think this exercise is a load of bull and no matter how much arguing that's going on here, I'm not going to change my mind about it. But I'm going to wait to see what Lisa says about this all before I make my decision."

"Why's it bull?"

Cameron laughs and shakes his head. "Oh come on, we've already had the complete discussion. I don't think anyone who is opposed against it is suddenly going to turn around and go 'hey, you know what? maybe this is actually a good thing'. It more feels like kicking people in the shins and just actively provoking them than having an actually interesting new insight."

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