Lana Beniko (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unusual_sith) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2023-10-03 01:55 pm
unusual_sith) wrote in fandomhigh2023-10-03 01:55 pm
Entry tags:
Philosophies of Good and Evil, Tuesday
"Last week, we talked about kindness," Lana began. "Since we started by getting its definition, let's talk about the definition of unkindness. Apparently, that is 'inconsiderate or harsh behavior'. But one of the things we mentioned last week was that sometimes being blunt and confronting someone is the kind thing to do. Or at least the good thing. Are kind and good always the same?" She shrugged. "Are unkind and evil the same?"
She paced as she spoke. "Can you be kind and evil? Or unkind and good? Where do you draw the lines of what you define as either?" She turned to the class. "If you see a being hurting and you don't help them, is that evil? What if you know someone more qualified is nearby - is it evil not to let them know? Does that answer change if you, say, patch their wounds but don't help them to a clinic? What if the being in pain is a terrible person, or if they make a habit of hurting others? What if you suspect they do but have no proof? What would be the right thing to do?"
“Is there even a right thing to do?” Atton added. “Or is that where we hit the point where it’s just personal preference?”
"What about the opposite?" Lana continued. "What if you know someone is a bad person and they cause suffering, but in helping them you also help others? Say, a despotic leader who nevertheless always makes sure their people are fed, healthy, and well-off?" No particular reason. "Would helping that person stay in power be wrong?"
Atton looked at Lana. “Imagine forcing thousands of beings to live on the street because you think it’ll give them a shot at a better life months or years later,” he said. “Is that kind or unkind? Are those even words you can use in that situation?”
Lana nodded. "Someone mentioned earlier you can't force people to be good, because it doesn't end well. If you knew it wouldn't lead to worse, that it would end with your choice, would it be right or wrong, kind or unkind, to force someone to do what you believe is right?"
She lifted an eyebrow and leaned against the desk. "Discuss."
She paced as she spoke. "Can you be kind and evil? Or unkind and good? Where do you draw the lines of what you define as either?" She turned to the class. "If you see a being hurting and you don't help them, is that evil? What if you know someone more qualified is nearby - is it evil not to let them know? Does that answer change if you, say, patch their wounds but don't help them to a clinic? What if the being in pain is a terrible person, or if they make a habit of hurting others? What if you suspect they do but have no proof? What would be the right thing to do?"
“Is there even a right thing to do?” Atton added. “Or is that where we hit the point where it’s just personal preference?”
"What about the opposite?" Lana continued. "What if you know someone is a bad person and they cause suffering, but in helping them you also help others? Say, a despotic leader who nevertheless always makes sure their people are fed, healthy, and well-off?" No particular reason. "Would helping that person stay in power be wrong?"
Atton looked at Lana. “Imagine forcing thousands of beings to live on the street because you think it’ll give them a shot at a better life months or years later,” he said. “Is that kind or unkind? Are those even words you can use in that situation?”
Lana nodded. "Someone mentioned earlier you can't force people to be good, because it doesn't end well. If you knew it wouldn't lead to worse, that it would end with your choice, would it be right or wrong, kind or unkind, to force someone to do what you believe is right?"
She lifted an eyebrow and leaned against the desk. "Discuss."
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