Ethics [Tuesday, August 28, 2012]

[sith_happened]

When Ethics began, the desks, instead of being set up in the usual rows typical of a classroom, had been shoved to the sides, and a long line of white tape had been stuck down the middle of the room. The instructor was also nowhere to be seen.

This served a purpose: breaking the students' preconceived idea about what a class devoted to ethics might be about, and setting them up for nervous chatting before Anakin arrived.

He did, precisely two mintues late, clicking the door shut behind him. "Welcome to Ethics," he said. "I'm Master Anakin Skywalker. Please set yourselves up along that white line."

He waited until all of the students were lined up before explaining. "There's a philosopher from this world named John Rawls, who believes that most reasonable principles of justice are those everyone would accept and agree to from a fair position. In Fandom especially, we are coming from a variety of cultures and traditions to examine ethical dilemmas, and so the idea of a 'fair position' is a bit of a moving target. The choice that might be right for you might be completely contrary to my own life experiences, but that will not make your point of view less valid."

Anakin began pacing, his cloak swirling around his ankles as he did so. "Rawls believed that to come to this fair position, a magical 'veil of ignorance' must be put into place in order to erase everyone's knowledge of their places in society." He smiled a little wryly. "I'm not saying that at some point, Fandom might not do that sort of work for us and erase your memories of who and what you are, but today we're going to conduct an exercise that's slightly less drastic--one that will make you examine the parts of your life you might take for granted, and how that affects your view on the world."

He glanced down at a piece of paper. "Let's begin."

Comments

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[sith_happened]

"If you were ever offered special privileges--a job offer, free tickets to major cultural events, a pass through security--because of your association with a friend or family member, take one step forward."

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[suitably_heroic]

And stayed where he was. Somehow he didn't think 'got offered a job by the Sith' really counted.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[failsatspirit]

Well, Korra had been offered some of that stuff, just not because of anyone she'd been friends with.

So instead of moving, she stood there, tapping her foot nervously in a way that should have been causing pebbles sprout up. Nothing happened.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[district12baker.livejournal.com]

This was beginning to be an exercise in not moving. Oh well, Peeta didn't mind.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[myownface]

Yeah, right. Sparkle was staying put.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[pursuedthestars]

Well. This was the first time Jim actually frowned. He hadn't expected this sort of question and hearing touched a nerve for the very slightest of seconds.

Thanks, Dad.

And while he contemplated lying and not moving, in the end, he took a step forward and stopped thinking about.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[nottrivial]

Alec thought about taking a step on this one, but ultimately didn't move. Sure, people were maybe a little nice to him because of who his parents were, but it was nothing compared to other Shadowhunter families.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[childhood-taunt.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That never happened for Matt.

He stood still.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

That was...kind of how Sholeh had ended up here. Sure, it was for the good of Tryadnea, but if their mothers hadn't been the leaders, they never would have gotten to come to Fandom.

Not meeting anyone's eyes, Sholeh moved forward.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[notconflicted]

And reasonably, Sia could step forward without giving anything away.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[nonelikemesince.livejournal.com]

Well, of course people always wanted to try and get on the good side of the former Chief of State, or her war-hero-husband, or her brother the Jedi Master. Was it a smart idea? Not necessarily, but they tried, which sometimes included trying to make nice with the Solo kids.

So . . . yeah, Anakin took another step forward.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[nomelancholy.livejournal.com]

... Like sailing across the Øresund in an American warship? Yes. Ulrik took a step forward.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[monkeymonkeydie.livejournal.com]

Special privileges? No matter how many times he ASKED for them, Bucky never got any. He stayed where he was.

Re: Experiment in Privilege - 6

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

Technically, yes. It's kind of why she was created.

Jessica stepped forward.