Page 72 - Demo

“But, that’s a natural part of the education system. It is to separate those who can make war from those who cannot. Those who turn, who feel fear when our people are on the line, cannot be trusted to defend us, or themselves.” (Plato 380BCE, 468a) I replied. “The selection of only the most able to defend us is for the benefit of everyone, and the good that comes of what this establishes makes the suffering of the few worth it, for what is good seeps into its constituents. (Alfarabi 943, p. 39, s. 70) War, policing actions, are therefore just, if good, (Plato
380, 374e) and I do not see how your fight was against that.”
“You have neglected the issue at hand. I am not talking about our ‘good’. Our ‘just’. I am talking about what is just not for ourselves or GalCop. What of those we condemn to pain for our benefit?” he parried, continuing with his meal. He turned from me and began to work the console again.
“They aren’t in the equation. They’re detracting from our good, necessitating injustice to produce more justice.”
“What takes them out of it? That they strive in directions we disagree with? Is their own justice not... good for them?” (Aristotle 323BCE, 1280a7)
“That they go against what we know is just, is what makes them unjust. To go against good, to go against the happiness of the many, is injustice.” (Plato 380, 428a) (Alfarabi 943, p.
39, s. 72)
“What if there was no GalCop to compare to? To pervert the simple relationship between all of us as human beings?” he turned back toward me. The door opened, into a well lit but small ship. The majority of it seemed to be taken up by a large engine. “If it would please you, step inside, sir.” he said coldly. I stood, and went inside. It was a lot warmer than the escape pod was, if somehow more cramped. The small porthole had been replaced with a wide open dome, chair looming in the centre. I could nearly see all the heavens, if it weren’t for the raging pale blue surface of Deneb, taking up the vast majority of the window.