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fandomhigh2012-01-19 08:42 am
sith_happened) wrote in fandomhigh2012-01-19 08:42 am
Entry tags:
Ethics [Thursday, January 19, 2012, 1st period]
When the class arrived, they would find their names on desks--Anakin had come up with a seating chart for the rest of the semester.
He was holding a giant mug of (decaf, Rory could tell if he was sneaking caffeine while she couldn't have any) coffee as he entered the room and gave his TAs papers to pass out, then went to the board and wrote out: "Utilitarianism: it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong," then turned to face his students. "Do you think this is true? If what gives the majority pleasure is watching Christians getting eaten by lions, or a four-day-marathon of that show about the orange people who live in New Jersey, does that make it right? What will protect the rights of the individual in a society ruled by utilitarianism--who in this example might be a Christian who enjoys PBS--or do those really matter?"
He was holding a giant mug of (decaf, Rory could tell if he was sneaking caffeine while she couldn't have any) coffee as he entered the room and gave his TAs papers to pass out, then went to the board and wrote out: "Utilitarianism: it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong," then turned to face his students. "Do you think this is true? If what gives the majority pleasure is watching Christians getting eaten by lions, or a four-day-marathon of that show about the orange people who live in New Jersey, does that make it right? What will protect the rights of the individual in a society ruled by utilitarianism--who in this example might be a Christian who enjoys PBS--or do those really matter?"
Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]
It sounded vaguely less horrifying than the orange people. But only very, very marginally so.
Still . . . she knew Julius Caesar well enough to understand that he had an interest in controlling what gave the majority pleasure.
"That depends, doesn't it?" she asked. "Do we want to assume that the people have decided what they enjoy based on what they really have available to them, or based on what they've been led to believe they should?"
It was a little cynical-sounding for her, but again, she'd spent a lot of time around Roman politicians.
Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]
Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]
"Well." Gabrielle frowned slightly. "I want to say they're making a completely free choice. I would really, really love to say that. But I think we're all led to believe there are certain things we should aspire to, or qualities that are interesting or desirable, because of the events that happen around us and the stories -- or TV shows, in this day and age -- that we've heard, read, watched, et cetera. And a good story -- you know, something uplifting, with a moral to it -- isn't always the one that will interest people the most, as much as I'd like to believe it should be."
That wasn't only based on the small children who'd complained her stories were boring, and could they hear something else?
She ducked her head and shook it, shrugging. "I think there will always be at least a little of the second option involved."
Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]
Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]
She considered for a moment longer, chewing idly at a thumbnail as she did.
"It's a useful thing to look at," she finally decided. "Understanding what gives the majority pleasure, that is. But no, I don't think that ought to mean that makes it right. I've seen public executions . . . I've felt the stands shake when the crowd roared for a man's head --" she'd had the means to save him literally in her hands at the time, and done nothing for the sake of the greater good, which still weighed on her but she wasn't about to share that -- "and just because they love the spectacle, no matter how much they might think it's right, no matter how much he might have deserved to be held accountable for his deeds -- which isn't necessarily true, because gods know there is such a thing as propaganda -- the fact still remains that they're taking pleasure from someone's death. That . . . is something I couldn't approve of."
Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]
Normally as the main attraction. Anakin lived an interesting life.
"It's cultural acceptable in many places, but it doesn't mean it's right. So I'm guessing this means you're not a fan of the concept of utilitarianism."
Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]