fandomhigh | Ethics, Monday, September 4, 2017

"Hello again, everyone," Anakin began. "In order to study ethics, we must attempt to have a common vocabulary. Otherwise my stealing might be your culture's borrowing indefinitely and we'll be talking past each other for months."

"The language of ethics takes shape differently in every culture, but often roots itself in religion," Obi-Wan continued. "Such is the case for this world, and certainly for the culture within which this island nominally finds itself. The Abrahamic religions, as they are called, shaped a good deal of the history of this country, at least for the past few centuries. And they speak of ethics in some very simple, if definitive ways."

Anakin nodded. "They call seven common human failings the 'seven deadly sins': pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. They're considered--at least on this planet--to be abuses of our natural passions. So today you're going to pair up and discuss this list and decide which, if any, you think should be removed from the list, or if there's something that needs to be added."

"And perhaps contemplate why these particular 'sins' were singled out," Obi-Wan said. "Are these intrinsically and universally horrible qualities?"

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Sidon would be more than pleased for a similarly unfamiliar perspective as well. He grinned broadly and nodded back, delving right in.

"And what do you make of these supposed Seven Deadly Sins?" he asked. "I do imagine a death by most of them would be quite abysmal indeed, though I find some of them strange things to worry about."

[[ assuming I don't die again like the weekend, definitely! ]]

"This sounds like some of what the Yeshuites speak of," Hyacinthe said, with a slow shake of his head, "but I've heard of no such demands upon D'Angelines or Tsingani. Certainly, all of these can be dangers, but surely that is an argument against excess not emotion."

"Precisely!" said Sidon with a chuckle. "Surely, it would be more effective to emphasize that moderation in all things is wise and that excess is bound to lead to problems not long down the river. Why, then, I wonder, single out these specific seven things? Perhaps these are the things that this culture believes to lead most people's motivations, and, therefor, the things that must be minded the most. I know I myself am very driven by pride, perhaps gluttony on occasion, but I don't believe the others factor much into Zora society at all."

Or maybe, just maybe, Sidon was just too much of a cinnamon roll to notice it.

"In Terre D'Ange, we consider desire to be sacred," Hyacinthe said with a shrug. "'Love as thou wilt' was Blessed Elua's one command. So I look at the idea of 'lust' as a terrible sin and find it pitiable."

Which wasn't really how the Tsingano felt about it, but Hyacinthe lived with a foot in both worlds and in this aspect, was more inclined towards his D'Angeline heritage.

If Sidon had the ability, he might have been blushing a little, but his curiosity rather got the best of him. Though he was getting to be about that age, he had always been a bit slower on the development of romance. There were just too many other important things on his mind.

"What, pray tell, is the difference?" he asked. "That is a sphere in which I do not know much." Pause. "Yet."

As heir to the throne, he knew it would be unavoidable in the future, but he figured he had, oh, at least fifty more years before it became a serious prospect.

"Between lust and desire?" Hyacinthe asked, just to make sure he understood the other lad aright. "One sounds prettier, to be sure, but other than that, I've no idea. Which is why I find the idea of lust as something sinful so...odd."

Just wait until he got around to describing the holy prostitution!

Ethics, Monday, September 4, 2017

Re: Pair up and discuss!

Re: Pair up and discuss!

Re: Pair up and discuss!

Re: Pair up and discuss!

Re: Pair up and discuss!

Re: Pair up and discuss!