Practical Philosophy, Friday

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"A friend of mine walked into a fight last weekend," Ender began. They were lucky - none of the storms had set in yet, and going by the available evidence, he was willing to bet they wouldn't until class was over. "My friend didn't walk out completely intact - though don't worry, they'll be fine."

He stretched his legs out. "Our species - perhaps all sentient species, I don't know and I don't wish to speak for anyone else - has a peculiar knack for the fight. Our differences drive us to conflict. Our greater causes drive us to conflict. Presumed theft or threat or even an insult could drive us easily into conflict. Why do we fight? For any reason, really."

"Why doesn't society collapse in the face of such an onslaught of violence?" he continued. "Most often, we do so by trying to make our differences that much smaller. We incorporate our greater causes into one, so we all fight for the same, and as a group we decide which crimes are unacceptable, to greatly decrease their prevalence. We make communities, and, in theory, the larger our community, the less people there are to come into conflict with. Of course, this is a very narrow thought - for the bigger a community becomes, the more opposing voices it might also breed. But there's the hope our similarities will surmount our differences."

He sat forward. "None of which explains the behavior of my friend," he added. "Many of us here live, or have lived, on the fringes of our communities. Because we have powers, or because we have roles, in our homes that are out of the ordinary. Even if that wasn't the case before, it will certainly be when you leave, because Fandom is in no way an experience your average community is familiar with."

"Anyway, my friend lives on that fringe," he continued. "My friend went into battle against something they considered evil. Was it a matter of sacrifice, perhaps? Our little theory of community would frown upon the loss of a member, but applaud any action done in its favor - removing a violent, unlawful threat would certainly fall under that banner."

He smiled wryly. "Of course, taking that route might be trying to weave it into too logical a narrative," he said. "We're creatures of emotions, by and large. Is it still ethical, and in service of the community, if we lash out and sacrifice ourselves in a beneficial way, not for that community, but to satisfy our own anger? You could in fact argue that vigilante justice is detrimental to the community, because it passes by all those constructs we've set up to keep each other from beating someone's brains in with a rock. If it becomes okay to exact violent retribution on someone for an act against the community without following the rules of that community, don't we break open the patterns that weave us all together?"

His eyes flicked over the group - especially to Britta if she was there. "Or maybe those kind of structures - like the police, for example - are inherently corrupt," he said. "Maybe they enforce an order that is ultimately detrimental to our community, and it is the moral connections at the heart of the community, not the ones that are writ down and enforced from above, that keep us together. Maybe by striking out alone, my friend has done what his community would like to have seen done. It's a question, isn't it?"

Comments

Before Class

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Get settled, chat.

Sign In

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Fighting!

Re: Sign In

[shestheworst.livejournal.com]

Britta Perry

Re: Sign In

[nothornlessrose.livejournal.com]

Cassidy

Re: Sign In

[walkswithcoyote]

Mercy Thompson

Re: Sign In

[inaskinnyway.livejournal.com]

Susan Sto Helit

Re: Sign In

[faithandscience.livejournal.com]

William Murdoch

Re: Sign In

[snarkyhealer.livejournal.com]

Shira

Listen to the Lecture

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Interrupt Ender, take notes, eat sandwiches.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[shestheworst.livejournal.com]

Britta looked a little affronted with the eye flicker, until it was followed by what Ender said, after which she supposed she had to grudgingly accept that it had been warrented. Maybe a liiiiiittle.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[nothornlessrose.livejournal.com]

Cassidy was listening and wondering of all of his friends really were all right.

Because this was Cassidy.

Talk.

[endsthegame]

About the topic at hand, or about anything else that has happened to you this week that deserves scrutiny.

As always, feel free to make it messy!

Re: Talk.

[faithandscience.livejournal.com]

"Back home, fighting was... well, I suppose best described as a form of entertainment," William spoke up. "At least, among myself and my friends." On the surface, William certainly didn't look the type who'd indulge in fistfights for fun, but appearances weren't everything.

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

Ender cocked one eyebrow. "Did you enjoy it?" he asked.

Re: Talk.

[faithandscience.livejournal.com]

"Er, yes, actually, somewhat," William admitted. "I found it a good release of tension, and it certainly kept me physically fit."

Re: Talk.

[endsthegame]

"Well, there's a reason why pugilism was brought into the world," Ender said. "It's cathartic, for one. Better to keep it to a regulated environment than to go out attacking men on the street."

Re: Talk.

[faithandscience.livejournal.com]

Will nodded. "It also had the benefit of being rather non-discriminatory when it came to who could participate. After all, all you needed was a pair of fists."

Talk to the TA

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Once she pings in.

Re: Talk to the TA

[life_inshadow]

Tara was a bit distracted wondering who had gotten hurt this time, but she present -- if quiet, as she considered bot the immediate question and her own place on that fringe.

Re: Talk to the TA

[endsthegame]

"Ready for the weekend?" Ender asked, once things had quieted down.

[life_inshadow]

Tara shrugged with the hint of a smile. "Sure, but ... it sounds like you might be more ready."

She wasn't asking her question as to who had gotten hurt and how just yet, but her curiosity was probably palpable.

[endsthegame]

"It's Fandom," Ender admitted. "I don't think there's such a thing as 'ready for the weekend'." He flashed her a wry smile. "I know what you're wondering."

[life_inshadow]

"Ready if it's a quiet weekend, maybe," Tara said, and tucked her hair behind her ears. "I guess I'm not subtle." Even if she kind of wanted points for not leading with the nosiness. "So ... who and how?"

Talk to Ender

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If you want to grab him after class.

OOC

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The big Dutch European Football Championship hit of the summer has reached such heights that it's now infecting my Spotify when I'm not listening to it of my own free will. Stupid ads. It's driving me nuts.

I much preferred the World Championship song from a few years back. (Well, that one. 'Viva Hollandia' was freaking annoying.)

I blame this post almost entirely on OSC for always rambling on about communities. Almost. The rest of the blame goes to hoorayimrich and momslilassassin for having such beautiful disasters for characters.