Harry's importance and threats of expulsion

[ameliagoldfeesh]

No: HPFGUIDX 57212

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Troels Forchhammer 
<t.forch at m...> wrote:> 

<Big Snip of what Steve wrote>
(Troels F. Writing)
> That it is sometimes necessary to break rules in order to do
> the 'right thing' should be obvious to most, but claiming
> that obeying rules is a low stage of moral development is,
> IMO, a morally reprehensible statement. Rules are created
> to allow a society to function. Disregard the rules and you
> destabilise the society - it really is that simple!
> Creating and maintaining complex societies are, IMO, a
> victory for human morals. The realisation that we must
> submit ourselves to the common rules to make that
> society work is perhaps the highest moral state humanity
> has yet achieved. The next step is when the rules become
> unnecessary.
> 
> Normally minor transgressions can be absorbed without
> problem while more serious transgressions are punished, but
> if enough people start to do minor transgressions it can
> have seriously damaging effects for the society. Therefore
> rules should be followed for moral reasons, unless there
> are compelling /and/ commonly acceptable reasons not to.
> In most cases bad laws shouldn't be broken, but people
> should rather attempt to change them. Extreme cases where
> the laws/rules are used to supress people are naturally
> excepted from the above discussion.
 
The law and order style of thinking classified as a "low stage of 
moral developement" is probably from Kohlberg's stages of moral 
development.

><Big Snip>
> (Steve)
> >It's just that Harry's life is far more complex than most other
> >students. He is faced with complex situations that other student 
will
> >never have to face. I would say that his rule breaking that falls 
into
> >the catagory of mischief is probably on par with his classmates.
> 
> Nope!
> His transgressions are worse that most. Stealing and flying the
> car in CoS and going to Hogsmeade in PoA are the worst cases.
> <Big Snip>
> Troels

How do we know that Harry's rule-breaking is "worst than most?"  The 
trio's exploits are about the only ones we read about.  We do read a 
bit about Draco's transgressions- his being out of bed to spy on the 
trio in PS, and his and other Slytherins use of the Dementor costume 
to scare and possibly injure Harry.  I haven't seen Harry and 
friends try to deliberatly harm others through their rule-breaking.  
Besides, for all we know, perhaps a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff has 
gotten into serious trouble but we, the readers, never hear of it 
since it isn't in the scope of the story. (Not that I'm taking this 
too seriously or anything.)

A Goldfeesh
(who thinks that amy_marblefeet should be nominated for a FEATHERBOA 
if she doesn't have one already for that "murder she wrote..." post 
*g*)