Nice vs. Good, honesty, and Snape:

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 152867


> Nrenka: 
> What we have here, people, is a failure to communicate.

Not so much a failure to communicate as a failure to agree on a 
definition!  Defining "nice" is probably as difficult as 
defining "good".

<snip>

> Nrenka:
> And if you take a view of morality that is deeply 
> interested in the methods by which people carry out their actions 
> as well as what the actions are and what the intentions are, 
> being 'nice' suddenly assumes a lot more importance.

Leslie41:
Defining what "morality" is is also resoundingly difficult.  There 
are philosophers who would agree with you, of course.  They would 
expect Snape, despite the pressure he's under, to be "nice" at all 
times to be considered "good".

But to me, a person who does the right thing because it's the right 
thing, selflessly and with no thought for personal gain or reward, 
and putting themselves in great danger in the process, is the very 
definition of goodness.  
 
> > Leslie41:
> > Not a reason for him to be humble, really.  Any attempt at such 
> > would only ring false.  And though Snape may not be "humble," 
> > neither is he a show-off.  
> 
> On the other hand, he does tend to have a kind of invincible belief 
> in his own perceptions of a situation being the right one.  Witness 
> his screaming fit both in the Shack and afterwards, which basically 
> amounts to a Tom Cruise-esque "I know what's going on here, 
> Hermione, you don't--don't be facile!"  The irony is intentional, 
> I'm sure. 

Leslie41:
But of course that "invincible belief" is correct in this case, is it 
not?  Cite somewhere he has a hissy fit where he's NOT correct.