House elves and some spoilers for Swordspoint WAS: realistic solutions

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 180863

> > a_svirn:
> > <SNIP>
> > > When you say that this definition of slavery is incomplete, you
imply
> > > that it is possible to owned and be subject to other people'
will
> > > without being a slave. I'd really like to know how this state is
> > > called, however.
> >
> >
> > Alla:
> >
> > NO, I did not say so. I said so many many many times during this
> > thread that in *our culture* it is called slavery.
> >
> Carol responds:
>
> In support of Alla, the definition of "slave," according to
> Merriam-Webster, which defines English words as they are used by
> Americans, some of whose ancestors formerly approved of or even
> practiced slavery while others actually were enslaved (FWIW, my
> distant ancestors include a freed slave and his parents, a slave
with
> no last name and her white owner) is "a *person* person held in
> servitude as the chattel of another." "Person" is defined as "human
> individual." As Ron reminds Hermione, House-Elves aren't human.

a_svirn:
And my OED gives "human individual" as only one of the meaning of the
word "person". The other or, rather, one of the others being "in
general philosophical sense: a conscious or rational being". House-
elves certainly pass the muster – they may be not as rational as one
would have whished, but they are certainly conscious.

Besides, if they aren't persons, then what are they – animals? They
certainly have emotions, values, and identities, personalities. It
does not seem to be altogether fair to liken them to cattle.


> Carol:
> As Susan McGee pointed out, many American slaves ran away or
rebelled
> against slavery. Why? Because they were mistreated and/or because
they
> believed in the fundamental right of human beings to be free, even
if
> freedom meant starving to death or working for pitiful wages under
> harsh conditions.
>
> But House-Elves, Dobby excepted, don't want to run away, nor have we
> ever heard of a House-Elf Rebellion to parallel all the Goblin
> Rebellions that Professor Binns keeps attempting to drill into the
> minds of his students.

a_svirn:
Except that Kreacher did rebel against his master. And tried to defy
another. That's two thirds of our elvish acquaintance.

a_svirn