Ethics Class, Monday, 2-4pm

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara's face is tight and drawn as she addresses the class.

"For those of you who heard about Friday's class - we're not talking about that. If you wish to talk to me in my office hours you are very welcome to although they will be slowplayed liek woah, because I'm single parenting this week. However, I would appreciate it if we could keep in-class discussion today on the topic at hand.

"The topic, such as it is, will be chosen today by you, not by me. Here's what I want you to do:

"Raise an ethical issue. Give us your opinion on it. I don't mind what you choose - there are hundreds of issues we haven't touched on yet in class. Go wild. Have some fun with it, if you want to, just make sure there is an ethical question to be addressed. Respond to another person's raised issue with your opinion - beyond just 'I agree'. I'd love to see you all engage in some proper debates with one another, and I'm quite happy to give extra credit for people who engage in multiple debates."

Comments

Before Class

[brambless.livejournal.com]

...

Re: Before Class

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

John gets to class early and collapses in a chair.

Re: Before Class

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Kawalsky sat down next to Connor.

Re: Before Class

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

signs in, looking doubtful of today's topic.

Class Discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Raise an issue, address someone else's. Talk with one another.

Re: Class Discussion

[defiantlyyours.livejournal.com]

"Man has a right to his freedom. Of thought. Of action. He should not be locked in a cage and spoonfed brain acid."

Re: Class Discussion

[chasingangela]

Angela cocks an eyebrow at Six. "Brain acid?" she asks. "I mean, I think I agree with you, I just have no idea what that is. it sounds like it would suck."

Re: Class Discussion

[miss-monochrome.livejournal.com]

::blinks:: I'm right there with ya up to the "spoonfed brain acid" bit. Is that one of those Earth sayings? But, uh, yeah. That sounds like it would be bad.

Re: Class Discussion

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

"Some Men do not deserve their freedoms because they are harmful to others. Therefore, some Men deserve to be locked in a cage and spoonfed brain acid."

Re: Class Discussion

[chasingangela]

Angela's arms are wrapped around her body, and she looks relieved when Tara announces the new class topic. Or lack of topic.

"Could we talk about the ethics of theft? I mean, I think it might be okay to steal if it's your only option to feed your family or whatever, but some people would say it's unethical no matter what."

Re: Class Discussion

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie leans back in his chair quietly, thinking this over for a very long time.

"Drawing from my personal experience . . . what are the ethics of mutiny? Say that your superior officer can be proven to be a threat to the lives and well-being of his crew -- say if he is credibly mad. However, you are bound by the law to adhere to the chain of command and the command of said superior officer. To obey his commands, on the other hand, would be a detriment to not only the ship and crew, but to the fleet as a whole. Can it be argued, one way or the other, that mutiny is the more honorable option?"

He smiles, a little bitterly. "I never did get to find out the answer for myself."

Re: Class Discussion

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"How about privacy?" Angel suggested. "When is it right to violate someone's confidence? Sure there's cases like child abuse that seem cut and dry. But what if it's something like knowing a friend cheated on their boyfriend or girlfriend? If you know that knowledge will hurt their lover, is it your responsibility to tell?"

Re: Class Discussion

[miss-monochrome.livejournal.com]

[Relieved that today's class apparently wasn't going to be a repeat of what she'd heard about Friday's, Chiana thinks for a microt before picking a fairly calm topic.]

Well, I've always been told that...that lying is wrong. I've always ignorned it, but that's a different discussion. Kinda the...the opposite of Angel's question, I guess, but isn't there times when lying would actually be better than telling the truth? Might not exactly be "right" but, if the truth would only hurt the person and not...not do anybody any good, is tellin' a lie still the wrong thing to do in that case?

Re: Class Discussion

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

John ponders for a quick moment.

"How about someone abusing their power under the auspices of teaching? Specifically, making light of action that have happened to someone, very emotional actions, to be used in a class exercise?"

Re: Class Discussion

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

*breezes in late, but with enough time to hear the topic for today, and claims a desk near the back*

What about the ethics of not going to class? *props her chin on her fist and eyes her classmates*

Assignment

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"I've got an out of class assignment for you to complete between now and next week, but I can't tell you the details of it. Just like today's class, this is one you're going to have to shape for yourselves.

"Much to the disappointment of Plato, there is a difference for most people between what we believe is right, and what we actually do. I, for example, am occasionally self-centred and insensitive, though I try not to be. This week I want you to choose one such behaviour pattern - that you personally do not like about yourself, and feel you would be a better person without - and try to go just one week without it. I don't necessarily expect you to succeed, but I do expect you to log your progress. Next week I want you all to report back, with the aim of exploring why knowing what is right and doing what is right are two different things."

Re: Assignment

[chasingangela]

Angela writes this down, chewing on her pen. She has to try to quit the thinking-too-much thing again, doesn't she? Even if it does make me a really shallow person.

Re: Assignment

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel broods thinks about this one long and hard.

He decides to try talking to people more. Except Callisto because talking too much to Callisto might make him lose the soul.

Re: Assignment

[soldtoarmenians]

Xander stares at his notebook page, which remains stubbornly blank. It's not that there's nothing he dislikes about himself; it's that jeebus: he wouldn't know where to start.

I've been known to make the occasional stupid joke," he scribbles down finally, "instead of saying whatever it is I really want to say. Usually it's because I don't know what I really want to say. Doesn't happen with people I can't stand; them I've got no problem telling it like it is. But people I like... not always so much."

Re: Assignment

[allie-cameron.livejournal.com]

Having gotten the heads up from Lisa about the assignment, Allie decides to try being less shy.

Re: Assignment

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

John decides, thinking back to a recent conversation with Kawalsky, to be less of a lone wolf.

Re: Assignment

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

*raises a hand* I, Beka Valentine, do solemnly swear to give up flirting with evil for a whole week.

Re: Assignment

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie considers the assignment. "This behaviour pattern -- should it be a longstanding one, or can it be something that has developed of recent times?"

Emo Closet

[brambless.livejournal.com]

There if you need it.

OOC Discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

RL issues take precedence over IC issues, always. Speak up if you have a problem!