fandomhigh | Ethics Class - catch up session, 10am-4pm

Entry tags:

ethics

Ethics Class - catch up session, 10am-4pm

Tara posts the class list on the door, as promised in her email, detailing the gaps in each student's participation. Penned at the bottom in a neat round hand is a note: Some of you may have discussed these with TAs out of class. Please inform me if this is the case.

She looks happy and well-rested as she sets up discussion stations around the room.

[ooc: I'll put names on the comment threads for the people who haven't completed them, rather than listing up here. Because I'm odd that way.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

"Identify something you have done in the course of your life that another person might consider to be evil. To clarify: I don't care whether you think it's evil or not. Try to look at your life experiences from the perspective of an animal rights activist, a member of the Christian Right, someone who lived five hundred years ago. Then, justify your actions, and identify whether you would make the same choice again given a similar situation."

For Bridge, Evie, Lindsey, Logan, Shane, Stark, Veronica, and Xander.

"Under what circumstances would you, personally, kill someone? Try to consider euthanasia and what you might do under duress as well as self defence."

For Allie, Bridge, Evie, Lindsey, Logan, Piper, Shane, Six, Stark, Veronica, and Xander.

"Some of you never debriefed from the slavery assignment. This is your last opportunity to do so. What did you learn? What were your challenges? How did it feel?"

For Allie, Buffy, John Connor, Lisa, Stark, Sydney, and Veronica. Chloe, Faith and Charlie, I've received your evaluations of your partner, but not your feedback on your own learning.

"What can you own? Can you own land? If so, how far down under the soil do you own? Can you own an item? A pet? Another person? Your own body? What, in this world, can you unequivocably call yours?"

For Angel, Buffy, John Sheppard, Lindsey, Lisa, Logan, Charlie, Quinn, and Rory. Monday students were not given this question - if you would like to answer it, it counts as extra credit.

"I'd like you to think about the 'helpless' - those people in society, including children and the mentally disabled, who are unable to care for themselves. What are they owed? What do they owe back, to their parents and their society? What are their responsibilities, and when is it appropriate for them to assume the responsibilities of a 'normal' adult?"

For Allie, Angela, Angel, Archie, Beka, Bridge, Buffy, Chloe, Evie, John Connor, Lindsey, Lisa, Charlie, Phoebe, Quinn, Six, Sydney and Veronica.

"Assume you have superpowers. 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 also 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?"

For Archie and Faith.

"What right do you have to save anyone? Without their express, explicit permission, how can you be sure you're doing the right thing? Come up with a scenario where intervening to save someone would be the wrong thing to do."

For Allie, Angel, Archie, Beka, Bridge, Buffy, Callisto, Chiana, Chloe, Evie, Faith, John Sheppard, Lindsey, Lisa, Parker, Piper, Quinn, Six, Stark, Sydney and Veronica.

Pulling out her pen, Shane opens her notebook to a blank page... she doesn't need any time to decide what she should write down. Lips pressing into a thin line, her eyes narrow behind her glasses as she writes down her answer on the page.

"Back when I lived in West Hollywood, I turned tricks. I did it so that I could eat and have a place to sleep."

A faint crease appears between her eyebrows as she sits back in her seat and considers the second half of the assignment. Taking a deep breath, she lets it out slowly as she writes down her answer.

"I'd make the same choice again."

"This is your scenario. Your loved one is suffering - a horrible event or memory that is tearing them apart. You have the ability to remove the memory of that event, excising it from their mind like a cancer. Assuming you must make this decision on your own, without any cue of what your loved one wants - what do you do?"

For Archie, Chloe, Faith, Lisa, Sydney and Veronica.

"There are five primary classes of punishment; corporal, capital, imprisonment, fines and behavioural rehabilitation.

"Pick two of these. Defend one, and advocate another. What are the ethical issues surrounding them? In what circumstances are they appropriate?"

For Bridge, Chiana, Chloe, John Sheppard, Logan, Stark, Sydney and Veronica.

"Let's pretend that you run the world. This world, that we inhabit together in all our diversity, even if your home world is very different.

"How do you a wrongdoer who is a danger to society and the people within it? Explain to me your plan for punishment and/or rehabilitation, and justify why you think it would be effective."

For Angel, Archie, Belthazor, Bridge, Buffy, Callisto, Charlie, Chiana, Chloe, Faith, Lindsey, Logan, Phoebe, Piper, Quinn, Rory, Six, Stark, Sydney and Veronica.

"If you'd like to talk to me about anything, including feedback on your class performance, come see me."

Here if you need it.

*dances around, singing*

Drawing a line beneath her answer for the first discussion question, Shane then brings the pen up to her mouth, chewing thoughtfully on the cap for a moment.

"I would kill someone if they seriously injured one of the people I love.

Self defense: I might... but that would depend on who it is trying to hurt me.

Euthanasia: If there was no chance, no hope at all, and I knew the person wanted it to be that way, then yes.

Under duress: I'd try to find a way so that I wouldn't have to."

When Shane hands in her paper, Tara's eyes glance over the words before rising to meet Shane's.

'I love you', she mouths. She touches her hand to her heart, where the golden cord still links them together, irregardless of distance.

Drawing a line under her previous answer, Shane considers this next set of questions. She'd been in Monday's class at the time so she hadn't really had much of a chance to think about it... and extra credit couldn't hurt, even though, technically, she wasn't getting any for her participation in class.

"The Indians didn't believe that we owned land and I guess I kind of agree with them. It was here before we were. How can anyone own rocks and trees?

I think if you make something with your hands, you can own it then, but not if you just buy it. Owning people and pets ... you own them only as much as they let you.

My own body... I guess that depends on what I want to do with it. If I wanted to kill myself, they wouldn't let me because euthanasia's illegal. So does that mean the government owns my death? If I got pregnant but wanted an abortion, in some states, it's illegal again so... same thing.

I think... my soul is... mine. My mind. My voice. My heart. You can't touch them, but they're like my rocks, my trees."

"Well, it's been my experience that killing someone who does wrong to you and yours is a fairly effective means of preventing repeat behavior."

Tara nods, musing on this. "I guess that's true. Any issues with catching them, first?"

Tucking her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, Shane's smile is small, but warm. 'Love you, too,' she mouths as she backs up and returns to her seat.

"Can I skip this one?"

Tara blinks, surprised. "If you want to, certainly. You'll receive a non-participation grade, but it's your choice."

"I think people who can't care for themselves are owed the best care society can provide for them -- food, shelter, interesting stuff to do, all of that.

They owe back ... I guess it, like, depends on their capabilities? I mean, a 16-year-old like me is pretty much responsible for taking care of herself. An infant just isn't. I guess kids owe their parents .... god, I hate to say respect, 'cause it's not like you get to choose your parents, or like all parents deserve respect. But I guess respect comes closest to what I mean -- stuff like, recognizing that they're people and have lives and don't necessarily always want to be a mom or dad first, and giving them space to exist.

And I think the responsibilities are to care for yourself as best you can, and become an adult when you're ready."

"Yeah...I'm, um, just not comfortable discussing punishments and stuff right now."

Tara nods, smiling gently. Tentatively, she touches his shoulder, wordlessly offering her support and understanding.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 7

Ethics Class - catch up session, 10am-4pm

The Evil Within

Justifiable Murder

Slavery

Ownership

Duty of Care

Superheroes!

When to Intervene?

Re: The Evil Within

Memory

Punishment

If you ruled the world...

Teacher/student conferences

Emo Closet

OOC Discussion

Re: Justifiable Murder

Re: The Evil Within

Re: Ownership

Re: If you ruled the world...

Re: If you ruled the world...

Re: The Evil Within

Re: If you ruled the world...

Re: If you ruled the world...

Re: Duty of Care

Re: If you ruled the world...

Re: If you ruled the world...