[[BACKPOST]]: Second-Best Theory I

Posted on 18 Apr 2013 @ 11:34am by
Edited on 18 Apr 2013 @ 11:53am

1,315 words; about a 7 minute read

HOVER OVER all Vulcan within for translations!

ON:

[[2356: LECTURE HALL 87, VSA VULCAN]]

Ost'syn, Liyar scribbles over the large translucent monitor in front of his class. It's new, an install. Most of the terminals in the desks are gone, replaced with wood furnishings. His is the only lecture hall in the VSA that doesn't come equipped with self-monitored computers. When he requisitioned to get them removed, he'd said it distracted from the atmosphere of the classroom. He knows the board directors think he's out of his mind, but he just keeps writing. Two hour lecture. Two parts, as always. Practical and philosophical.

Rufah, he continues in short, staccato handwriting. He looks over his shoulder at the straight line of students who file in through the back door. The seats fill up back to front, and there's silen--

Liyar breaks off from the last character of Nisaya and eyes the fidgeter in the back sternly. He's young, maybe nineteen. New, Liyar's never seen him before, with jet black hair and a mountain of PADDs in his hands. Liyar decides to give him a pass.

Nisaya, he finishes, and sets the board outward. "Cost-benefit analysis," Liyar reads. Redundantly, of course. They already know. "Welcome to second-term econ. Syllabi are encoded on the PADDs in front of you, read them all," and he's done this a thousand times before, "if you want to write an essay on how irrational they are, hand it in by Lekh'dahkuh. We can correspond. In fact, I encourage you to disagree with it. First," Liyar lifts a hand and it hovers for a moment. "New-one," Liyar points his index finger up at the kid, arching his eyebrows. The other students shift very minutely toward him, as though silently radiating condolences. "Tell me what it is." He looks to the board again.

Unused to being called out in an institution largely renowned for its individual discretion and self-guidance, New-One barely conceals his bafflement. "My name is Ak'weth. It is to determine if benefits exceed costs," Ak'weth answers.

"An exceptionally obvious answer, Ak'weth."

"It's the correct one."

"Yes, I suppose it is. Why?" Liyar asks, writing backwards on the other side of the board. The letters show through properly. Benefits > costs.

Ak'weth is thrown for the second time in less than two minutes. He opens his mouth, then closes it.

Liyar gestures his hand outward. "Why?" he repeats. "Benefit is good. Cost is bad. A simplistic algorithm, yes?"

"Yes," Ak'weth agrees. He isn't sure if he's getting the point or not. It's roundabout, bizarre. He's heard of this instructor, his unusual, incomparable methods, but never experienced such a direct approach to teaching. Doesn't he know that Vulcans do not require this? Their memories are eidetic, their minds highly attuned. There is no need for idle conversation. It is inefficient. They could be halfway through their first textbook with the time Osavensu Liyar takes to get to his point.

Oblivious, Liyar continues. "Why?" Liyar crosses his arms and leans against the back wall. "You."

His finger drifts over to a girl with long hair tied up in an intricate knot. She has both legs crossed under her desk and straightens up. "It is to determine whether or not the benefit to a proposed venture would be worth the cost of said venture," she summarized.

"I am well aware of what your textbook says, T'Elin. Try again."

Gradually the collective stare of the class moves to T'Elin. She holds her ground. "Osavensu, I do not comprehend your request. I have given you the correct definition of the term."

"You have given me a definition. Not yours. I did not ask why cost-benefit. I asked, why benefit at all? Tell me. Why is benefit preferable? Why do we, as calculating beings, instinctively want more?" His fingers curl back into his palms toward him as he speaks, leveling an eyebrow in T'Elin's direction.

"We are motivated to seek out resources and experiences which add to our subjective growth," T'Elin says, almost hesitantly.

"Very correct." T'Elin gives no response to the mild praise, but she's less focused on her fingernails. "We are motivated to add to our own subjective lives. What about; wealth - greed, you might call it. We say it is illogical. Why?" Liyar jots down reversed-letters as he speaks.

"Greed is an irrational vice, because it describes the point where benefit to subjective experience no longer holds relevance," T'Elin says, her voice stronger this time.

"Another accurate description. Greed is illogical. Benefit is not."

Another lighter-haired student in the back raises their finger. This one knows the drill. Liyar nods to him. "Benefit to subjective experience cannot be the only motivation to seek benefit," he argues.

T'Elin shifts in her seat. Liyar eyes her, lips pursed. They're getting off topic, but that's sometimes the point. He'll guide them back. For now, "Are you going to respond?"

Almost immediately, T'Elin fired out, "Benefit to subjective experience is the only motivation."

Liyar separates the panels on his board and enters in new characters. Vathu-tunan: yeht?

"Altruism is impossible. Everything that we do traces back to ourselves. To ascribe that state to altruism, acting solely for another, you diminish our capacity as individual beings."

Liyar looks up to Vasak. Vasak has a barely discernible frown on his face, but he wipes it. Liyar steps in. It's important to foster a sense of dynamism, community, the ability to speak up and offer input. But for Vulcans, mediation is equally important, to avoid bruised egos. Although none of his students will ever admit to that. "An intriguing point, T'Elin. What you are getting into there, is what we call zhit'tvai koish'a'siq. You take contention with Vasak's argument because you disagree with how he defines his parameters. You describe altruism as a state of suppressing will. Elaborate."

"If we were to do things solely for others, we would fail to do them for ourselves. Another person's wants and needs would supersede our own."

"Do you account for k'war'ma'khon in this definition?"

Vasak, convinced that T'Elin held Liyar's favor, looks up from the wood swirls on his desk. He holds up his finger. "You effectively describe my point. It is impossible to attach a definition to altruism that pertains only to single individuality. We are Vulcan. We do not ascribe to that philosophy. All Vulcans are responsible for one another. That is the cornerstone of everything a Vulcan is taught. We gain benefit by providing benefit to the whole."

"Chicken or the egg," Liyar mutters dryly. Leave it to first year Vulcan students to dive straight into the meaning of life.

"Kel'a, but Vulcans do not ascribe to a singular philosophy. We are individuals, we have many different ethical sets. Any decision we make, would be based on our own personal belief systems," Ak'weth speaks up.

"Indeed. And in this, you each describe very well the most fundamental conflict of economics. Do we gain benefit by providing benefit to the whole, or do we provide benefit to the whole because it benefits us subjectively?" Liyar summarizes, amused.

OFF:

Liyar
NPC Students

RSS Feed