Ethics, Wednesday
Today the desks were shoved against the walls (and two guesses about how that had happened and "actually pushing things with their hands" wasn't the answer), with a giant piece of masking tape down the center of the room.
"We're talking about privilege this morning," Anakin began.
"When speaking of ethics, it can be highly valuable to be aware of which platform you are speaking from," Obi-Wan continued. "There are issues we might not be able to speak of with full understanding, or issues we might understand better than those we are speaking of, based on how much privilege we had growing up. And these privileges may well be smaller, and yet more significant, than you think."
"In a school like this one, especially, what you might think of as universal experiences--space flight, for instance, or unlimited amounts of water--can be unfathomable fantasies to the student next to you," Anakin said. "We've tried to come up with examples to be as helpful as possible in this exercise, which is not intended to make any of you feel better or worse than the other beings in this class. It's intended to remind you to reflect on your own worldview and how that affects your reactions to things."
Like, say, if you grew up on a slave planet with a kill-button implanted in the back of your neck, you might be a little prickly and homicidal as an adult.
"So please step forward and stand on the indicated line, where we will also be joining you," Obi-Wan said, gesturing at the floor. "We will read a number of statements, and whether you should take a step forward or a step back if it is true."
Anakin stepped onto the line, jaw set. This wasn't exactly his favorite exercise.
"We're talking about privilege this morning," Anakin began.
"When speaking of ethics, it can be highly valuable to be aware of which platform you are speaking from," Obi-Wan continued. "There are issues we might not be able to speak of with full understanding, or issues we might understand better than those we are speaking of, based on how much privilege we had growing up. And these privileges may well be smaller, and yet more significant, than you think."
"In a school like this one, especially, what you might think of as universal experiences--space flight, for instance, or unlimited amounts of water--can be unfathomable fantasies to the student next to you," Anakin said. "We've tried to come up with examples to be as helpful as possible in this exercise, which is not intended to make any of you feel better or worse than the other beings in this class. It's intended to remind you to reflect on your own worldview and how that affects your reactions to things."
Like, say, if you grew up on a slave planet with a kill-button implanted in the back of your neck, you might be a little prickly and homicidal as an adult.
"So please step forward and stand on the indicated line, where we will also be joining you," Obi-Wan said, gesturing at the floor. "We will read a number of statements, and whether you should take a step forward or a step back if it is true."
Anakin stepped onto the line, jaw set. This wasn't exactly his favorite exercise.