A Short Test Of Philosophy

B: I have a question. K: What? B: You believe in doing the right thing, right? K: Yes. Doesn't everyone? B: But you'd agree that, at least without gods involved, that “the right thing” is subjective. K: Yes. We all follow our personal codes B: But what if those personal codes collide? K: Then you simply do what is most important, no? B: What if both are on exactly the same level of importentence? K: That’s impossible. B: I disagree. What's more important, your loyalty to the Order of the Scourge, or me? K: I am confused. Both share the exact same level of importance. But neither conflicts. B: What if I told you to attack the Hellknights? K: Then you whould be actively be hampering my mission, thus giving your life a lower priority than it has been currently assigned, and I'd have to arrest you. B: Thats cold. More cold than you usually are. K: Would I regret doing it? Cerently. But you can see my reasoning. B: Not reasoning. Logic. K: What's the difference? B: What if I was captured? By the Hellknights. By your hellknights. Would you rescue me? K: Oh what charges? B: Unknown. You have no idea why I was kidnapped, and do not have the time to find out. K: Why not? B: Because you are standing at a gate. If you do not save me, the entire room will be electrified, and we both will die. K: And if I save you? B: Then we both can escape in the nick of time, and everything turns out fine. K: ...... B: Don’t tell me you need to debate about saving me? K: That...sort of system is called a Fail Deadly containment system. Only used to house the most viscous of criminals. Meaning that by you being their, you must have committed an incredibly heinous crime, and while I do not know exactly which crime you commited, the fact you were contained in such a secure cell, proves your extended guilt. B: What if I was put in said cell by mistake? K: The Hellknights do not make mistakes. B: But what if they did? Regular old humans certainly do from time to time. K: That....is true. However, the chances of it being a mistake, especially with a cell of that level of clearance...are so infencently small that it can be safely ignored. B: But what if that chance was correct? K: What? B: Imagine if that tiny small change your refusing to calculate was correct. That's MY life on the line. You'd dismiss something as possible simply because it was unlikely? K: I...what B: Thats illogical. K: Your....correct. B: So, you'd release me? K: I...don’t know. My head hurts. B: I don’t mean to make your head hurt. K: Apology Acknowledged. B: Your using artificial terms again. K: Right. Sorry. B: Can I rephrase the question to help alleviate your issue? K: That would be beneficial, yes. B: Your aware of those illusionary playpens that wizards make, “holo-decks”, or whatever they are called, where illusions can become physically enough for interaction, yes? K: Yes. B: Imagine you were assigned to monitor one. And I came along to use one, with Alpha clearance. K: That allows access to any and all subsystems. B: Exactly. So before I step into the chamber, I let you know that I am incredibly squeamish around violence. To the point that I piss my paints in cowerdence whenever I see a weapon. K: *Laughs. Your not though. B: For the sake of the thought experiment, assume I am. K: Alright. B: So before I step in, I use my Alpha clearance to ask that you disable the safety features, and keep the illusions coming, even if I start screaming, and ask you to stop. K: Alpha users have that right, yes. B: Once I do so, I step into the chamber, and call up a scene of a big, major, modern battle. K: Oh dear. That sounds like it could end badly. B: It does. I call up the battle to attempt to face my fears. But it doesn't work. I feel scared. K: Oh dear. B: And so, I fall to the floor, and start screaming at you to disable the simulation K: But...I cannot dispel the illusions. Because of Alpha clearance. B: I lie on the ground, and yell at you to disable the simulator. I feel real pain from the battle. I am slowly being beaten to death. K: I....do not want you to be beaten to death. But I cannot disable the simulation. B: Do you do nothing, and just watch me die? K......I....I can't do nothing. But I can't...not save you. But I cannot disable the simulation. B: Do you need a moment to think? K.....Yes B: Take your time. K:...... B: Do you understand what I meant at the start of this conversation now? K: What do you mean? B: You can't judge events purely on their logical, hierarchical importance. Things change over time. Becoming more or less important depending on the circumstances. K: But...when, and by how much? B: Dunno. Nobody knows exactly. It’s just common sense. K: I do not have common sense. B: Yup. But you gotta get some if you want to survive in the modern world. K: How? B: Questions like this. K: ..... B: It’s difficult, isn’t it? K: Yes. I am not sure what to do. B: The answer is surprisingly simple K: Really? B: Yes. I imagine if a human was served this problem, the’dd answer it in less then a second. K: How!? B: Because they can easily make a choice between a life, and following orders. K:.... K:.... K:..... K: It doesn't matter what my orders where. A life is in danger. And that overruled any previous orders. Because life is valued more than following orders. B: Now, your getting it. K: ....I cannot save your life by following the orders I have been given. So I need to countermand those orders, at least temporarily, for the greater good. B: Yes! K: That...is a slippery slope, however. I do not know all of the information. What if you were just pretending to be slowly dying? B: Thats...unlikely. But it’s a risk you'll have to take. K: It’s a risk that could get me kicked from the Order? B: Are you willing to risk membership if it meant saving a life, and doing the right thing? K......Yes. B: Then I think you’ll be just fine, Kathi.