fandomhigh | Philosophy classroom: Ethics class #4, Friday, 8-10am

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ethics

Philosophy classroom: Ethics class #4, Friday, 8-10am

[ooc: My deepest apologies for posting this so late.]

Tara smiles worriedly as the students come in, checking face after face.

"Today's topic is power and responsibility, and I would like to remind you all that your grade comes from your discussion, not your presence. If you don't feel comfortable talking, write something down and hand it in to me. Being a silent warm body in the classroom is no different than not turning up."

[ooc: And I would remind you that I leave posts open for the whole week. If you post 'shows up and takes a seat' I know you're still alive, but you need to actually address the discussion topics to pass the class.]

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"I know a lot of you are upset about Kitty Pryde - and you have every right to be. I'm sure every class has already discussed the issue, so I'm not going to dwell. However, this has drawn my attention to my class list. Has anybody seen Archie Kennedy? Any time in the last two weeks? It's not like him to miss class - but I don't care where you've seen him. In the dorms, in the town, in another class... If you have seen him at all, I need you to come and talk to me now."

"Power and Responsibility, I said. Now, I know we've got a mix in this classroom of students, some of whom have actual powers. Superpowers, even. Today I'd like you each to assume you all do. What superpowers is up to you - even if it's just wealth and status - but to put us on a level, we're all extraordinary. This is just us, though. Assume that you're in the vast minority, and the world still consists of ordinary human beings.

What are your responsibilities? To your family, to your friends, to your society - to yourself? Discuss."

"Okay, now let's take a different viewpoint. What right do you have to save anyone? Without their express, explicit permission, how can you be sure you're doing the right thing? I'd like you to split up into pairs. One of you is going to play the hero, the other is going to be a rescuee who didn't want to be rescued - you can choose why. Talk it out, and then switch places. I'll give you 45 minutes, and then you'll report back to the group."

((OOC: Red Appreciation Day is eating my brain. Sorry for the further delay on this. Call it verisimilitude.))

"Okay, so what have you come up with?"

Should it be needed.

OOC discussion, as always.

"Power doesn't make you responsible. It just makes it easier to get what you want."

"Does it, Belthazor? And once you get what you want? Do you then have any responsibility to hold it, or to accomodate others into the world you've created?"

"Well, if you want to keep it, you have to hold it. If you don't someone will just take it from you. So if it's land or an item or something like that, you have to protect it."

"And if it's a person? What are your responsibilities to the people you have power over, or your loved ones?" Tara's eyes flick towards Phoebe before she continues. "Should you wear a disguise, protect your secret identity? Do you keep it a secret from them? Or do you share the secret, and make them keep it a secret from their loved ones?"

~~You are mean and I hate you.~~

Belthazor squirmed uncomfortably. "It, um, it's hard to say. It would depend. If your loved one would be hurt knowing what you are, then you should hide it. If they might be hurt because they don't know what you are, you should tell them. But the more people who know, the more risk there is of someone finding out who shouldn't."

~~*sob. sniff. woe.*~~

"And endangering you both," Tara nods. "But this isn't hypothetical for you, is it? So how do you balance the choice of people knowing about your demon heritage with the danger that might bring to you, and to your... friends?"

~~You have a file for each student that says "buttons to push," just admit it.~~

Belthazor shrugged. "I mostly tried to hide it at first here. I mean, there's a lot of people here who aren't exactly your normal human, so a demon wouldn't be too out of place, but I didn't want it getting out. But then that video got released so I couldn't really hide it anymore. Ordinarily no one would now. We're not supposed to expose ourselves to the mortal world."

~~Yeah, and you did such a damned good job at that.~~

Beka looked at Bel as he spoke, gaze steady, maybe a little angry. "What about your own power, Bel?"

Beka sighed. "Power makes no difference, Prof. It's all one. My first responsibility is to stay alive and make sure no one else gets hurt trying to keep me that way. My second responsibility is to protect what's mine. And that includes my people. If I have another responsibility, it's to try not to hurt people unnecessarily."

"I feel that people with a superpower that could potentially harm someone should be responsible for the safety of those around them."

~~If you read closely, you'll notice that I have a notebook with a section for each student. I'm not telling you what's in it, but you're a good guesser.~~

"Okay... and now that it's out? You didn't reveal it, but do you owe it to your friends to protect them from the fallout you might bring to them?"

~~Shut up.~~

"What about it?" Belthazor growled.

"And do you think those responsibilities are made harder or easier by having more power to do it with?"

~~Name, age, home dimension, buttons to push, turn-ons, turn-offs....~~

Belthazor took a quick glance at Phoebe. "Yeah, I do...."

Lisa raises her hand, "Have you asked Harry Potter? He's his roommate. I live on the same floor but I haven't seen Archie in a while, and he's was kicked out of Math for not showing up. But if he's been around I'm sure Harry could tell you."

~~Make me. Really.~~

"Don't you have a responsibility to protect it? To make sure no one takes it from you?" She hadn't realized how angry she'd been at him for that. For giving up when she would've fought in his place.

"I guess I would follow the Hippocratic Oath (http://www.geocities.com/everwild7/noharm.html) doing what I can to the best of my abilities, while respecting the sovereignty of others and trying to keep those around me as healthy as I am able to. I have a problem imagining myself with some sort of superpower - what's more powerful than holding someone's life in your hands, really? Life is about balance, and compromise, and doing the best you can with what you have. I can't imagine having special abilities would change that outlook, or my feelings of responsibility, one way or another. As a human, I use medicine as my way to help people, if I had special powers, I would use those."

Lisa looks very disturbed by the question, and looks around for a partner.

She cast a guilty glance at Bel. "There's always someone stronger than you."

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Philosophy classroom: Ethics class #4, Friday, 8-10am

Before class starts

First Hour

Second Hour

Second Hour - the report back

The Emo Closet

OOC

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Re: Before class starts

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Re: Second Hour

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