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fandomhigh2024-10-16 09:09 am
despisestheforce) wrote in fandomhigh2024-10-16 09:09 am
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Morality of Action, Wednesday Afternoon
"The concept of cruelty has fascinated all societies," Kreia began. They would find themselves in a large, grey classroom, bereft of light - the Danger Shop, but not a particularly inspiring creation within it. "Why do men become monsters? One theory this particular world seems enamored with is that power naturally inspires cruelty and abuse."
She waved her hand towards the back. There was a simulated prison there, prisoners and all. "Many decades ago, scientists on this planet ran an experiment. They created a prison, and divided their subjects into two groups: prisoners and guards. The experiment was ended after six days, because the circumstances had grown inhumane. This came to be, the scientists claimed, because putting power over another being in one being's hands would inevitably lead to that being abusing their prisoner."
She dropped her hand. "But these results were manipulated," she said. "The true cruelty sat in the hands of those who created the experiment, forced their charges to play roles, misled them and pushed them to make circumstances worse than they had been. Yet for decades, this experiment stood as a true study of the nature of the people of this place."
Disappointed, as always. "What does this tell you about the circumstances that inspire cruelty?" she asked. "About its uses? And could the behavior of these scientists be justified? Do you feel there was some true worth to their beliefs about the source of needless cruelty, despite the taint upon this experiment - that something as simple as merely wielding power corrupts, always?"
She waved her hand towards the back. There was a simulated prison there, prisoners and all. "Many decades ago, scientists on this planet ran an experiment. They created a prison, and divided their subjects into two groups: prisoners and guards. The experiment was ended after six days, because the circumstances had grown inhumane. This came to be, the scientists claimed, because putting power over another being in one being's hands would inevitably lead to that being abusing their prisoner."
She dropped her hand. "But these results were manipulated," she said. "The true cruelty sat in the hands of those who created the experiment, forced their charges to play roles, misled them and pushed them to make circumstances worse than they had been. Yet for decades, this experiment stood as a true study of the nature of the people of this place."
Disappointed, as always. "What does this tell you about the circumstances that inspire cruelty?" she asked. "About its uses? And could the behavior of these scientists be justified? Do you feel there was some true worth to their beliefs about the source of needless cruelty, despite the taint upon this experiment - that something as simple as merely wielding power corrupts, always?"
Re: Questions
This week, at least, the students appeared to be sharp and self-reflective. She approved. (To some extent, always.)
"Or is it something that is nurtured, outside or in?" she continued. "More practically, what causes the future prison guard to manifest this desire to be cruel? Can we take a guess? Or do we hang its causes on the hands of some impenetrable force of fate?"
Re: Questions
"I won't deny that there are just some people who are born with a thirst for it, but more often than not, cruelty is nurtured. I certainly nurtured mine. Many things can feed it: a family that practices cruelty and models it for their child; a desire to feel or have meaning or be seen; a sense of righteousness; of ruthless pragmatism; of simple, decadent boredom. Back before we were lessened, there were plenty of Planeswalkers that would birth whole planes and create whole races to fill with them just to hunt them for sport once other pleasures had paled."