GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Comparative Morality

POSTED BY: BULBUS
UPDATED: Monday, December 9, 2002 17:37
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Monday, December 9, 2002 6:29 AM

BULBUS


I was just thinking about the Book theory post up here, and back on War Stories, and realized that Book doesn't seem to hold a preacher's traditional views on things like torture. When he's describing the state of River's mental scars, there's almost a bit of admiration for the job the Alliance did on her; the thoroughness, the utter ruthlessness.

Now the Bible is pretty clear about torture and things like that (though it doesn't follow it's own advice from time to time, and neither do some of it's readers...) but Book didn't seem to mind, which got me to thinkin', does he not follow every creedo in it, or has traditional morality in Firefly changed that much?

Now, we know that in Firefly, eastern and western philosophies have been melded together, but how much? In ancient China, and some could argue, modern, torture was an acceptable, even completely natural, practise. Though to be fair, there aren't many societies which can't claim that.

What does everyone else think? Is this moral thick skin just a remenant of Book's past, or does torture not mean as much as it used?

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Monday, December 9, 2002 8:26 AM

DRAUGLUIN


Torture is torture in any society. It can be a useful practice( please note I do not condone it ), but the only value it has is to the torturer. The person on the table never sees the usefulness of it.

Book's morality(like the rest of us) stems as much from his expriences as from any set religious code. what he has seen and done in the past is yet a mystery, and I will not speculate on it, but it is obviously not a monastic past.

I find it odd that, as a shepherd, he does not show as much empathy for Mal and Wash as I would expect, but I have to assume that it is his nature. I am dying to find out why.

_____________
Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark.

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Monday, December 9, 2002 5:37 PM

RHEA


Quote:

Originally posted by Bulbus:
I was just thinking about the Book theory post up here, and back on War Stories, and realized that Book doesn't seem to hold a preacher's traditional views on things like torture. When he's describing the state of River's mental scars, there's almost a bit of admiration for the job the Alliance did on her; the thoroughness, the utter ruthlessness.

Now the Bible is pretty clear about torture and things like that (though it doesn't follow it's own advice from time to time, and neither do some of it's readers...) but Book didn't seem to mind, which got me to thinkin', does he not follow every creedo in it, or has traditional morality in Firefly changed that much?

Now, we know that in Firefly, eastern and western philosophies have been melded together, but how much? In ancient China, and some could argue, modern, torture was an acceptable, even completely natural, practise. Though to be fair, there aren't many societies which can't claim that.

What does everyone else think? Is this moral thick skin just a remenant of Book's past, or does torture not mean as much as it used?



My feeling is that Book is a reformed crook or Fed who ain't been a monk for long, baby.

He knows a lot about ships (from Serenity), crime (Our Mrs. Reynolds) and killing (he was certainly cooly efficient in War Games, not to mention his knowledge of weapons).

I suspect his most telling moment is with River: "You don't fix faith - it fixes you."

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