“So, Cy says that good is when someone tries to help people or do things that make others happy and Chris points out that a person’s idea of good or bad depends on who they are affiliated with. Excellent points.” Ethan nodded, listening carefully and summarising what his students had to say.

“Anna’s quoting Shakespeare at me –Nice Anna, I do like Hamlet-- but it is a very apt quote. 'There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.' And our experiences and the gossip we hear and spread affect our thinking. And Abby makes a good point, often when people are trying to ‘help’ they can be so blinded by their own ideas of what is ‘right’ they miss that they are often wronging the affected parties.” Ethan stood up and slowly began walking up and down between the groups of desks.

“Copernicus makes a good point about how our definitions of good and bad can have surprising results when we apply them. Helena agrees that personal opinion is the major contributing factor to how we distinguish good from bad and that our own experiences influence those opinions, perhaps even selfishly so?” Truebridge asked rhetorically.

“Celandine tells us that good intention doesn’t necessarily mean good result and vice versa and mentions that the methods are as important as the message yes? Raiden agrees with this and defines good as something that only benefits people. That really limits what can be defined as good then doesn’t it?” Another rhetorical question. Ethan looked around the class.

“Clifford sees Good and Bad as very black and white. Hurting people is bad. Quidditch is good and Rachel makes a very good point in saying the definitions are not absolute. Our opinions can change. And Diane has a very good point, social conscience does often replace our own individual morals.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow at Ash. “I’m glad you don’t think all Slytherins are evil. Ash makes a good point that we do, on a fundamental level, have a similar idea of what constitutes ‘good’. And Will, you are right about how differing opinions on the matter makes things interesting.”

Truebridge looped around the class and headed back to his desk.

“Varius likes candyfloss… though it is a fairly apt metaphor I suppose. Ah, yes Daniel. ‘We categorize the organizations based on our knowledge on what they have done or what they stand for’ And truly, we don’t always have the full picture do we? How many of you classified one of the groups or organisations on the list without truly knowing what they stand for?"

He was pleased by the critical thinking skills his class were showing.

“We’re going to move on now. I need four volunteers.”