Ethics [Thursday, March 1, 2012 1st period]

[sith_happened]

"Welcome back from your break," Anakin said, striding to the front of the class--where the students' desks had been pushed against the walls--to lean against the blackboard. "Today we move away from Kant and onto an American philosopher named John Rawls. He's a more modern philosopher, and the main tenet of Rawlsianism is that most reasonable principles of justice are those everyone would accept and agree to from a fair position. The question, naturally, then turns into 'what is a fair position' and his use of something called the 'veil of ignorance' that magically makes everyone unaware of their positions in society in order to determine if something is fair or not."

He pushed off of the wall and paced down the center of the room. "Rawls also argues that even meritocracy—a distributive system that rewards effort—doesn’t go far enough in leveling the playing field because those who are naturally gifted will always get ahead. Furthermore, says Rawls, the naturally gifted can’t claim much credit because their success often depends on factors as arbitrary as birth order or how you were raised as a child."

He waved his hand, indicating the students should form a line in the center of the classroom. "Today we'll conduct a little experiment in demonstrating privilege. Afterwards, I want you to discuss if such things matter in Fandom like they do back in your home universes, and if not, why not."

He reached for a piece of paper. "Let's begin."

Comments

Talk Before Class

[sith_happened]

Compare suntans!

Sign in [3/1]

[sith_happened]

Looking privileged.

Re: Sign in [3/1]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle

Exercise in Privilege

[sith_happened]

And massive OCD.

The students start lined up on a white piece of tape running down the center of the room. Take steps forward or back as Anakin reads off various descriptions.

Re: Exercise in Privilege--1

[sith_happened]

"If you were ever called names because of your race, class, ethnicity, species, gender, magical powers, or sexual orientation, take one step back."

Anakin had tweaked the questions slightly for Fandom.

Re: Exercise in Privilege--2

[sith_happened]

"If your ancestors were forced to come to your place of origin, not by choice, take one step back."

Re: Exercise in Privilege --3

[sith_happened]

"If your parents were professional: doctors, lawyers, etc., take one step forward."

Re: Exercise in Privilege-4

[sith_happened]

"If you were raised in an area where there was prostitution, drug activity, etc., take one step back."

Re: Exercise in Privilege--5

[sith_happened]

"If you ever had to skip a meal or were hungry because there was not enough money to buy food when you were growing up, take one step back."

Re: Exercise in Privilege--6

[sith_happened]

"If there were more than 50 books--or the technological equivalent in your universe--in your house when you grew up, take one step forward."

Re: Exercise in Privilege--7

[sith_happened]

"If you attended a private school or summer camp prior to coming to Fandom, take one step forward."

Re: Exercise in Privilege--8

[sith_happened]

"If you were told that you were beautiful, smart and capable by your parents or other caregivers, take one step forward."

Re: Exercise in Privilege--9

[sith_happened]

"If you are encouraged to attend college by your parents or other care givers, take one step forward."

Re: Exercise in Privilege--10

[sith_happened]

"If you ever inherited money or property, take one step forward."

Re: Exercise in Privilege--11

[sith_happened]

""And finally, if your parents or guardians told you that you could be anything you wanted to be, take one step forward."

Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

[sith_happened]

How far off the line are you? In what direction?

Re: Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

She'd ended up one step back of the line. Huh. She hadn't quite been expecting that, and Gabrielle looked a bit surprised.

Re: Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

[hurtingzeebo]

Honestly, Sam was a little surprised she was only two steps back.

Her best friend had had to be the one to take her to the dentist for the first time, after all.

Re: Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

Dave ended up for steps ahead of the line. Pretty much where you'd expect a white, Christian boy from the Midwest with good Canadian parents to end up.

Re: Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

[withasword.livejournal.com]

Kate had never really considered herself 'privileged', but her place dead on the line spoke otherwise.

Her world had its downfalls, but as it turned out, growing up with Voron had evened out a lot of them.

Re: Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

[ihavediabetes.livejournal.com]

Stacey was way ahead of the line. Life was great.

Re: Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

[godofxbox]

Alex wound up right on the line. He'd had a complex childhood, so going in he'd been prepared for a weirder result than this.

Answer the discussion question [3/1]

[sith_happened]

"In a school full of geniuses, princesses, multi-billionaires and slaves, have we formed a different sort of meritocracy here? Does how you were raised before arriving on the island matter as much here as it does when you return home?"

Re: Answer the discussion question [3/1]

[hurtingzeebo]

"Well," Sam said thoughtfully. "I've only gotten detention once since I got here, which is totally a huge record. And that was just for setting fire to Mr. Madrox's stupid 'rate our boobs' worksheet. So there's that."

Talk to Anakin or Gabrielle [3/1]

[sith_happened]

Anakin will probably not tell you where he ended up on the line, but his experiences as a slave and then as a Jedi apprentice pretty much canceled each other out in this exercise.

Re: Talk to Anakin or Gabrielle [3/1]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle -- well, the class might have seen where she ended up on the line as soon as I actually ping all the threads. The entire exercise was definitely thought-provoking, but she was available to talk to despite her incredibly preoccupied expression.

OOC

[sith_happened]

When you look at it long enough, privilege looks spelled wrong.

Re: OOC

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Because I'm a giant dork I did this exercise for several of my characters and determined that Stephanie would end up two steps back, Anakin would be three or four (I keep waffling on a couple of technicalities) steps forward, Katchoo would be two steps back, Tahiri would be on the line, and Kennedy would be seven steps forward, the obnoxious little twit.

I share because I'm sleep-deprived.