Moral, Immoral, and Amoral: Dumbledore, Voldemort, and Snape

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 139127

Del replies:
I disagree with your classification. The way I see it, it's LV who is
amoral, while Snape is immoral.

First off, if anyone is amoral in the Potterverse, it's LV *by
definition*. LV is a sociopath (by JKR's own admission, and judging by
his behaviour), and one of the main characteristics of a sociopath is
that they lack morality, that they are amoral. Quirrell said it
(paraphrase): LV taught him that "there is no right and wrong, only
power and those too weak to use it". That's LV's motto, that was
*always* LV's motto. No right and wrong, only power and those too weak
to use it. No good and evil, no good magic and Dark Magic, only
powerful magic and those too weak to use it.

vmonte:

Did I get these mixed up? 

Amorality involves actions without concern or intention to moral 
consequences. So, an amoral person is unaware of morality, where as  
an immoral person actively transgresses against it. 

Hmmm, I thought that Voldemort was willingly choosing to do wrong. It 
seems to me like he knows right from wrong but likes the power trip 
he gets from doing wrong.

You are saying that he really isn't concerned about right or wrong 
but lives on base instincts--someone without a conscience?

And Snape is immoral. But if I describe both of their behaviors then 
I need to say they are both immoral. 

Forget it --- too confusing -- lets just say they are both bad.

Vivian  :)