Ethics, Thursday, December 1, 2016
Anakin came in looking slightly rumpled. The Coke bears had insisted on hugging him on his way to class. "As you might have noticed by the weird bears on campus today, it's December in Fandom," he began, "which means there will be weird things happening every day. Be glad today isn't the one where only eggnog comes out of the water pipes. That makes for a horrible shower."
"But, considering the spirit of this planet's holiday season," Obi-Wan took over smoothly, "We felt it was important to focus on something else. Namely, the notion of giving - charity. Often considered something of an ethical virtue."
Anakin nodded. "Either to your friends and family, too people in less advantageous economic circumstances than you, or just to complete strangers, people are encouraged to give either or their time or their money, especially this time of year. Now, is this something you agree with or would this be considered something uselessly soft in your world?"
"This world also knows the concept of 'paying it forward'," Obi-Wan said, "The idea that you do a kindness for someone, and they will do a kindness for someone in return, and so on. Do you consider that realistic?"
"The idea with that being that eventually some sort of karmic balance will make you the beneficiary of something nice, too, I believe," Anakin said, nodding.
"So please, do discuss," Obi-Wan said, "And if you believe in it, perhaps think of a way to... pay it forward."
"But, considering the spirit of this planet's holiday season," Obi-Wan took over smoothly, "We felt it was important to focus on something else. Namely, the notion of giving - charity. Often considered something of an ethical virtue."
Anakin nodded. "Either to your friends and family, too people in less advantageous economic circumstances than you, or just to complete strangers, people are encouraged to give either or their time or their money, especially this time of year. Now, is this something you agree with or would this be considered something uselessly soft in your world?"
"This world also knows the concept of 'paying it forward'," Obi-Wan said, "The idea that you do a kindness for someone, and they will do a kindness for someone in return, and so on. Do you consider that realistic?"
"The idea with that being that eventually some sort of karmic balance will make you the beneficiary of something nice, too, I believe," Anakin said, nodding.
"So please, do discuss," Obi-Wan said, "And if you believe in it, perhaps think of a way to... pay it forward."