Ethics, Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 2nd period

[sith_happened]

The desks had been shoved to either side of the room and a large white strip of tape had been placed down the center. Looked like it was an interactive class activity today, kids!

"Please line up along the line," Anakin said, then waited for the students to comply before continuing. "There's a philosopher from this world named John Rawls who believes that most principles of justice are things 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."

"And so, what is a fair position?" Obi-Wan said. "This philosopher held his own ideas: he believed in a 'veil of ignorance' we had to assume, to forget the privileges and the responsibilities of our place in history." He glanced towards Anakin. "We cannot - nor would it be ethical if we could - simply put this veil on you, but we can knock you all down to the same level, so to speak."

He gestured towards the line on the floor.

"This is our veil; it is where we all begin, before circumstance steps in. Whatever your position in life - wealth, knowledge, midichlorian levels..." Hi, Anakin, "On this line, you have none. And then we begin our count."

Anakin rolled his eyes at the midichlorians and added, "Or your age or Inner Rim accent. We'll ask ten questions, see where you end up ahead or behind the line, and then we'll discuss how your perception on the world affects your reactions to things."

Like how being a slave for almost a decade could leave you with a giant, giant chip on your shoulder, for instance.

Obi-Wan looked faintly amused. "Perhaps we should join them," he said.

Anakin arched up an eyebrow. "I'm up for it if you are."

"It would be setting a good example."

And with that, Obi-Wan strode forward until he was standing on the line.

Comments

Question 10

[sith_happened]

"If, before coming to Fandom, you'd taken a vacation to a foreign country or planet, take one step forward."

Re: Question 10

[saddeserthermit]

Try as he might, Obi-Wan could not truly justify any of the missions he had gone on as a younger Jedi as a 'vacation', so he stayed where he was.

Re: Question 10

[sith_happened]

Yeah, not exactly vacations when you were getting shot at. Anakin stayed still.

Re: Question 10

[thegreywaren.livejournal.com]

While they'd had the means, Ronan hadn't really had the motivation to travel so he stayed where he was.

Re: Question 10

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

And that was another step forward.

Vacations abroad where something her family enjoyed.

Re: Question 10

[nolizardhere]

Andros had been to plenty of other planets, but not for vacation purposes, so, yeah, staying where he was.

Re: Question 10

[spin_kick_snap]

Again, Kathy paused. Did it count if it was a trip to see relatives? Then she decided that being able to afford a flight for a family of four halfway around the world was privilege enough and stepped forward.

Re: Question 10

[gavegoodface]

Face wasn't really sure if travelling to other worlds for or because of shooting holos counted, and living with distant relatives while faking his death certainly didn't, but on the other hand he'd been born on one of the planets people came to for vacations, so he might as well take that last forward step.

Re: Question 10

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

Did it count if it was for her father's work? Celia had seen a lot of the world from train windows and portholes, but it was never travel for leisure.

She took a quiet step forward, all the same. They could afford to travel. That was the point.

Re: Question 10

[princessarcasm]

Amy didn't move for that one. She had been opting out of family vacations with her mom and various stepfathers for as far as she could remember.

Re: Question 10

[not_a_moonie]

Alana took a proud step forward here. Of course interplanetary travel was more normal in her world than in many others, but she figured it still counted.

Re: Question 10

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

But Elsa was going to stay put, here. She'd really been too young to travel before the accident, and after it, she hadn't really left the castle, never mind the country.

Re: Question 10

[sarcastic-vamp.livejournal.com]

Vacation? Not so much.

Re: Question 10

[bjornstjarna.livejournal.com]

The trip to Idun's orchard had been anything but a vacation, so Soren stayed where he was.

Re: Question 10

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

Minako stayed where she was. Yes, there'd been Greece and London for her, and while there'd been fun spots, the trips had been part of being the only active senshi and dealing with Yoma, not for fun.

Re: Question 10

[wildandbrave]

And it looked like eight steps back was where Cosette was going to stay. Montfermeil to Paris had been as far as she'd ever gone in her life before this place.

Re: Question 10

[notamascot]

Right. Like that had happened. Kaylin stayed where she was.

Re: Question 10

[thegc161kid.livejournal.com]

Coming to Fandom had been the first time that Alex had left the state, so she stayed where she was.

Re: Question 10

[nobloodymessiah.livejournal.com]

Eleanor had never left Rapture itself before coming to Fandom, so she was staying put yet again.