Chapter 234: Lunch and Philosophy II

Chapter 234: Chapter 234: Lunch and Philosophy II

Professor Whitlock looked toward her.

"Miss Sinclair."

Evelyn stood.

"I agree with Miss Beaumont that a person isn’t obligated to reciprocate someone’s feelings."

Vivienne glanced toward her.

So far, so good.

"But I disagree with the idea that the absence of an explicit promise eliminates responsibility."

Professor Whitlock nodded.

"Why?"

Evelyn answered without hesitation.

"Because people communicate through more than explicit promises."

"If someone knows another person has developed feelings for them..."

"And deliberately behaves in a way that encourages those feelings..."

"Then they are influencing the other person’s expectations."

Vivienne’s expression changed slightly.

Evelyn continued.

"The question isn’t whether they owe that person a relationship."

"They don’t."

"The question is whether they have a responsibility not to deliberately mislead them."

Professor Whitlock nodded.

"An important distinction."

Evelyn looked toward the board.

"Autonomy does not mean freedom from all moral consequences."

"If we knowingly encourage an expectation because we benefit from it..."

"Then we have to consider whether we’re treating the other person merely as a source of attention."

Vivienne’s eyebrows rose.

There it was.

That sounded suspiciously like an accusation.

She raised her hand again.

Professor Whitlock noticed.

"Miss Beaumont?"

Vivienne smiled.

"Isn’t that assuming intent?"

Evelyn looked toward her.

Vivienne continued.

"If someone enjoys another person’s attention, that doesn’t automatically mean they’re exploiting them."

"Perhaps they simply enjoy being liked."

"People are allowed to enjoy affection."

"Even if they don’t intend to return it."

Professor Whitlock nodded.

"Quite right."

He looked toward Evelyn.

"Miss Sinclair?"

Evelyn didn’t hesitate.

"Of course."

"But enjoyment alone isn’t the problem."

"If someone knows the other person is becoming increasingly attached..."

"And deliberately encourages that attachment because they enjoy the benefits of it..."

"Then intent becomes relevant."

Vivienne leaned back.

"And how exactly do we determine whether someone is ’deliberately encouraging’ something?"

"That’s the difficulty."

Evelyn replied.

"We examine the pattern of behavior."

"The circumstances."

"The person’s knowledge."

"And whether their actions are reasonably likely to create a false impression."

Vivienne smiled faintly.

"That sounds rather complicated."

"It is."

Evelyn’s gaze remained steady.

"Ethics usually is."

A few students laughed quietly.

Vivienne’s smile widened.

"Well."

"At least we’re making good use of the lecture."

Professor Whitlock smiled.

"Indeed."

He returned to the board.

Under the earlier words, he wrote:

INTENTION

KNOWLEDGE

CONSEQUENCE

DUTY

"Now we’re getting somewhere."

He turned back toward them.

"Miss Beaumont’s argument emphasizes autonomy and intention."

"Miss Sinclair’s argument introduces foreseeable consequences and relational responsibility."

He underlined both.

"Neither position can simply be dismissed."

Vivienne looked at the board.

Annoyingly...

That was true.

Professor Whitlock continued.

"This is where ethical theories begin to diverge."

He wrote three terms.

DEONTOLOGY

CONSEQUENTIALISM

VIRTUE ETHICS

"Suppose we approach the same situation from three philosophical traditions."

"A deontologist may ask whether the individual violated a moral duty."

"A consequentialist may ask whether their conduct produced unnecessary harm."

"And virtue ethics asks a different question altogether."

He paused.

"What kind of person behaves this way?"

The room became silent.

Vivienne stared at the words.

That one was irritating.

Because it didn’t ask whether the action was technically permissible.

It asked what the action said about the person.

Professor Whitlock continued.

"Imagine someone says..."

He spoke slowly.

’I never promised anything.’

"Perhaps that is true."

"But does fulfilling the minimum requirement of honesty automatically make someone virtuous?"

No one answered.

Vivienne lowered her eyes.

Professor Whitlock smiled.

"Exactly."

"Ethics is not simply about discovering the minimum behavior required to avoid punishment."

"It is also about asking what we owe one another as human beings."

He turned toward the class.

"Compassion."

"Honesty."

"Respect."

"Justice."

"These virtues often demand more from us than the law does."

Vivienne wrote the words down.

She didn’t particularly like where this lecture was going.

Not because she disagreed with everything.

But because Professor Whitlock had a particularly irritating habit of making seemingly simple questions difficult.

He looked toward the class again.

"One final question."

"Suppose you know that someone cares deeply for you."

"You do not love them."

"But you enjoy their attention."

"Would the morally responsible choice be to distance yourself?"

A student raised his hand.

"Not necessarily."

"Why?"

"Because distancing yourself could also hurt them."

Professor Whitlock nodded.

"Excellent."

Another student spoke.

"Then perhaps honesty is more important."

"Perhaps."

Another student added,

"But honesty doesn’t always eliminate pain."

Professor Whitlock smiled.

"Precisely."

He looked around the room.

"Ethics does not promise us painless choices."

"Sometimes..."

"The morally responsible choice is simply the one that causes the least unjustifiable harm."

Vivienne was silent.

Across the room, Evelyn was taking notes.

Vivienne glanced at her.

Their eyes met.

Evelyn’s expression was unreadable.

Vivienne’s lips curved.

She leaned slightly toward Claire and whispered,

"She looks very pleased with herself."

Claire looked at her.

"Who?"

Vivienne didn’t answer.

She didn’t need to.

Claire followed her gaze.

Then looked back.

"What did she do?"

"Nothing."

Vivienne whispered.

"She’s just..."

She searched for the word.

"Annoying."

Claire’s lips twitched.

"That’s all?"

"For now."

Professor Whitlock’s voice brought their attention back to the front.

"For our next meeting..."

Several students immediately looked nervous.

"I want each of you to choose one ethical dilemma."

"Identify the competing moral principles."

"Then evaluate the dilemma through at least two ethical frameworks."

He wrote the requirements on the board.

"Do not merely state which position you prefer."

"Explain why."

"Your conclusion matters less than the reasoning that leads you there."

Vivienne copied the assignment down.

Of course.

Another analytical paper.

And now she had to argue both sides.

Wonderful.

Professor Whitlock smiled.

"I’ll see you Wednesday."

--

The bell rang.

Chairs shifted throughout the lecture hall as students began gathering their books.

Vivienne closed her notebook and slipped it into her bag.

Across the room, Evelyn was doing the same.

They both moved toward the aisle.

As they passed one another, their shoulders nearly brushed.

Vivienne stopped.

She turned slightly.

"Your argument was interesting."

Evelyn looked at her.

There was no warmth in her expression.

"Was that a compliment?"

Vivienne smiled.

"No."

She adjusted the strap of her bag.

"An observation."

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Vivienne’s smile widened.

"Although I suppose I should thank you."

"For what?"

"For correcting me in front of everyone."

Her tone was light.

Almost pleasant.

"That was very helpful."

Evelyn studied her.

"I was answering the professor’s question."

"Of course you were."

Vivienne nodded.

"How could I forget?"

The sarcasm was unmistakable.

Evelyn’s expression tightened.

"You were wrong."

Vivienne’s eyebrows rose.

"Was I?"

"Your argument overlooked an important moral consideration."

Vivienne gave a small laugh.

"Right."

She tilted her head.

"You really do like correcting people."

Something flickered across Evelyn’s expression.

Then she answered evenly.

"Only when they’re wrong."

Vivienne looked at her for a moment.

A familiar memory surfaced.

A balcony.

A private conversation.

A dance.

And Evelyn Sinclair now standing in front of her, speaking so confidently about responsibility and propriety.

Vivienne almost laughed.

You’re one to talk.

But she kept that thought to herself.

Instead, she smiled.

"How convenient."

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.

"What is?"

"Nothing."

Vivienne stepped past her.

"See you later, Lady Sinclair."

She didn’t wait for a response.

As she walked toward Claire, Amelia, and Eleanor, the faint smile remained on her lips.

She was annoyed.

Very annoyed.

But somehow, she was also pleased.

Because if Evelyn wanted to play this game...

Vivienne had no intention of backing down..