ChapDisc: DH 18, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 182628

---  "nikkalmati" <puduhepa98 at ...> wrote:
>
> --- "Steve" <bboyminn@> wrote:
> >
> > ---  "Mike" <mcrudele78@> wrote:
> > >
> > > 
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > > 
> > > 
> > > CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
> > > Chapter 18, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
> > > 
> > > ...
> > > 
> > > QUESTIONS:
> > > 
> > > ....
> > > 
> > > 6. With regards to "For the Greater Good", Hermione said 
> > > Dumbledore changed. Did he? Though Dumbledore rejected 
> > > Grindelwald's interpretation of that phrase, did Dumbledore
> > > reject his own interpretation?
> > > 
> > 
> > bboyminn:
> > 
> > I'm going to just address this one issue. The problem with
> > the quoted statement is that there are two more words to
> > it, though those two words may only be implied.
> > 
> > ...
> > So, when, at that time they say 'for the greater good', what 
> > they mean is for the greater good /of wizards/. They are 
> > willing to oppress and subjugate an entire race of millions of 
> > people for the greater good of a few thousand people, meaning
> > of course, the wizard world.
> > 
> > Later in life, Dumbledore still believes in the greater good,
> > but he now believed in the greater good /of all/. >
> > Steve/bboyminn
> 
> >
> >Nikkalmati
> 
> This phrase, which occurs several times in the books in different 
> contexts, has me puzzled.  What does the author (JKR of course)  
> intend?  If I were just reading the books, I would think that she 
> intended us to see the irony in DD's use of the phrase as a guide
> to right behavior.  The greater good according to whom?  ...
> 
> Nikkalmati
>

bboyminn:

Well, this is the very point I am making, to simply say 'The
Greater Good' without establishing a context is to say 
nothing. 

I think JKR believes in the greater good of ALL, not just the
greater good of a priviledged few. Far to often in modern
society, it is the greater good of a select few that is 
considered over the greater good of the greatest number of 
people. 

As an extension of 'the greater good', there is a secondary
aspect of human endeavor that has been the subject of many
science fiction stories including "Ender's Game" and various
'Star Trek' episodes, and is also reflected in Harry Potter.

On some occasions human will sacrifices The Few to save The
Many, but on other occasion, quite illogically, humans will
sacrifice The Many to save The Few.

This was especially impressed on me when Aberforth and Harry
argue in 'Deathly Hallows' just before Harry and friends 
enter Hogwarts castle. Harry in essence says that some causes
are so great and so true, and the need so real that indeed
the few must be willing to sacrifice themselves for the good,
or if you will the greater good, of the many. 

Harry knows that he could, as Aberforth suggests, save himself,
and let the wizard world/adults fight their own wars. But Harry
knows it is within his power and within his will to stop the war
and by extension, stop Voldemort. Selfless as always, Harry is 
willing to make that personal sacrifice in the hope that his
sacrifice will save the wizard world and the muggles. 

Harry is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good of
the wizarding world and the muggles and muggle-borns, in a 
sense, willing to self-sacrifice for the greater good of all.

So, yes, JKR supports the greater good, but only within a 
fair and reasonable context. The majority can't have its
way to the detriment of minorities. The wealthy and powerful
can not have their own way and act in their best interests
to the detriment of those socially and economically below 
them. Any greater good must be, to the extent possible, for
the greater good of all. 

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn