Ethics [Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 1st period]

[sith_happened]

Rory had left for the Democratic National Convention on Sunday, which sort of explained why Anakin looked as sleep-deprived as the rest of the students when he entered the classroom a minute late.

It also explained why he had an infant in his arms and spit-up on the shoulder of his robe. Not that he knew about the spit-up. "Sorry about this," he said, "but Christopher threw a fit at the day care center, and when your baby has Force abilities...well. Now I have to replace all of their high chairs."

Temper tantrums at Anakin's house were so much fun.

"All right," he said, "onto today's ethical dilemma: If you had to choose between killing one person in order to save five others, or doing nothing even though you know that doing nothing means that those five people would die before your eyes, what would you do? And what do you think would be the right thing to do?"

Wasn't this a fun, cheerful subject, students?

Comments

Sign in [9/4]

[sith_happened]

Wtf, kid in class.

Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[sith_happened]

"If you had to choose between killing one person in order to save five others, or doing nothing even though you know that doing nothing means that those five people would die before your eyes, what would you do? And what do you think would be the right thing to do?"

Make it messy, folks!

Talk to Anakin [9/4]

[sith_happened]

And baby Christopher, apparently.

Talk to the TA!

[sith_happened]

Hello, Korra!

OOC

[sith_happened]

Anakin's morning doesn't at all reflect how mine went. Rly.

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[nottrivial]

Alec Lightwood

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[nottrivial]

"It... I can't believe I'm saying this, but it does depend on the people, to an extent?" Alec said, rubbing his forehead. "Say the one person was in particular need of protection for some reason, or the five were... not good people. That could change things."

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[failsatspirit]

Korra

Re: Talk to the TA!

[failsatspirit]

Korra was doing her best to look serious and responsible. It was a mixed result.

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

Jessica Drew

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"The options are never that simple. I guarantee there's more options available as the situation gets less general," Jessica said. "So. number three or four, or whatever saves everyone, because the first two choices aren't good enough."

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[nottrivial]

"Oh, if that's an option, then I want to go with that one too," Alec amended. "That's, yeah, that's preferable."

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[notconflicted]

Marasiah Fel

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"Just realize that if the given options are 'kill someone' or 'let a bunch of people die,' any third option is probably going to require some kind of crazy risk to yourself and no guarantees of success," Jessica pointed out. "At that point you're risking seven lives, including your own."

"I'm pretty sure I'm still going that route every time, but it's something to keep in mind."

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[notconflicted]

Yeah, Sia was not going to get over seeing Darth Vader with spit-up on him anytime soon.

"It depends on who the people are and the circumstances surrounding them," Sia said, "and whether there's any alternative. The easy answer, without knowing further details, is that it's better to kill one person rather than five, but the real answer is 'whatever's necessary.'"

This question was actually going to come into play down the road, too. Like, a lot.

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[pursuedthestars]

Jim Kirk

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[nottrivial]

"Even if the situation necessitated that things go smoothly?" Alec checked. "Like if within those six people was someone you really needed to protect, no matter what?"

He wasn't arguing with her, more trying to get a feel for her resolve than anything else.

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[pursuedthestars]

"I doubt the choice is ever gonna be as clear cut as that question makes it," Jim said, shaking his head. "Nothing's ever that cut and dry. You can't make an informed decision without knowing who you'd have to kill, who the five people are, what circumstances stuck you in that situation and so on. It's not possible."

He paused for a second and thought about the question again. "If I had to choose something, I'd kill one person and save five. I wouldn't particularly like it and I'd be hoping that one person was a bad guy who scared kittens and old people or something."

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[district12baker.livejournal.com]

Peeta Mellark

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Sholeh Zeela a Zhahar

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[district12baker.livejournal.com]

"It depends on the people involved," Peeta said, feeling no shame in stating that. "If that one person was someone that I cared about and the five people meant nothing to me then I would kill them. That's not to say I wouldn't feel awful about what I did, but the person I cared about would be safe."

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[failsatspirit]

"I'd like to save everyone." Oh youthful idealism. "If not, I guess all things being equal, I'd try to save as many people as I could...but then things like that are never really equal, are they?"

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[nomelancholy.livejournal.com]

Ulrik of Denmark

Re: Answer the discussion question [9/4]

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Sholeh looked surprisingly well-rested; in fact, if anyone brought up the fire drill, she'd look blankly at them in confusion. She'd slept very well last night through all the commotion. And if Zhahar seemed especially tired, Sholeh didn't notice.

"I don't think I could kill anyone," she said softly. "For me to even be able to--physically, I mean--they'd probably have to be all tied up and helpless and I don't think I could do that to someone."

Re: Sign in [9/4]

[childhood-taunt.livejournal.com]

Matt Murdock