Moral Relativism/Parents love to their kids in the books

[taramaya88]

No: HPFGUIDX 160976

> Alla:
> Okay, back to books now. I guess I have to mention Potters deaths.
> See, even though JKR distinguishes in her interview between Lily and
> James sacrifices, I really and truly do not.
>
> They both fought the monster to defy him an to protect their child.
>
> I do think that Lily's sacrifice also has certain animalistic
> quality, not just James'. Parents are supposed to protect their
> kids, that is what they do in my view.
>
> So, while I certainly think of Potters as heroes, I think of them as
> heroes because they joined the order to defy Voldemort and did it
> three times before Harry was born, NOT just because they died to
> protect Harry if that makes sense.
>
> Now, if they say run away and let Voldemort kill Harry, certainly I
> would think of them as monsters.


I think of it as expanding circles of altruism. If one's circle of concern only reaches the borders of one's own skin (as Voldemort's would appear to, even when he has no skin to speak of) one is selfish and evil in the extreme. If one extends one's concern to one's kin, but still feels the rest of the world can go hang itself, one is less of a monster but still not exactly angel material. If one loves one's family but is also willing to take risks for a
community and/or principle beyond that, one is morally good.

Of course there are complications. What if one is willing to sacrifice one's own life for a greater good, but not see one's child sacrificed? I think that not only would this be understandable, there would even be something a little creepy about a parent who could calmly place an abstract principle over the life of her own child. In effect, that is what Bellatrix does, by valuing her concept of racial purity over her own kin. If Vol were blackmailing Narcissa with her son's life, we would be wholly sympathetic to her, but that is not the case. Therefore she is morally in between. She does love someone outside herself, but beyond that she is still willing to kill for power.


Tara

http://taramayastales.com/