Page - 70 - in Reflective Cosmopolitanism - Educating towards inclusive communities through Philosophical Enquiry

70 REfLECTIvE COsMOPOLITANIsM Leading Idea 3: Reciprocity and vengeance Some people argue that actions motivated by vengeance may be justified when it means returning a previous negative action, when there is reciprocity. If revenge is a type of re- ciprocity, we face the following questions: is it fair? Is it all right to exchange a negative action for another negative action in the same way we exchange something for money? Is it all right to follow the rule of “An eye for an eye”? The goal here make sure that students think about how they should face these situa- tions when they occur in everyday life. They must also reflect on what criteria they must use in choosing the adequate response, the means they can use, and the consequences of their action. What students should come to understand is that the consequences of each action are intimately connected to the means used in the action. We suggest a dia- logue plan to help students deal with this topic. Discussion Plan: Getting even. Doing justice or just seeking revenge Discuss the following questions but remember that they do not need to answer all of them. The questions should create philosophical dialogue and the teacher should always ask for the reasoning behind students’ answers (not allowing “yes” or “no” answers) to facilitate critical thinking about revenge and justice. 1. If someone hurts you, do you have the right to hurt that person? Is that fair? 2. Do you need to hurt that person as much as she hurt you in order to get even? Is that fair? 3. If you hurt her less, is that revenge? Would you be even? 4. If you hurt her more than she hurt you, does that person have the right to hurt you a bit more in order to get even? 5. If someone trips on your foot, do you have the right to throw him to the ground? 6. If you did not, would that person owe you anything? 7. If a friend tells a secret you told him and you tell a secret he told you, did you get revenge? Are you even? 8. If a classmate insulted you and you insulted him back, would you feel satisfied? Would you be even? 9. If a classmate insulted you and then apologized, would you be satisfied? Would you be even? 10. If a teacher accuses you of cheating during an exam and you fail it unfairly, would that give you the right to cheat in the next exam? If you did cheat during the next exam, would that get you even with the teacher? 11. If a teacher accuses you of cheating in an exam and you fail it unfairly, would you have the right to vandalize her car? Would that get you even? 12. When somebody hurts you, do you have the right to retaliate? 13. If you do, do you get even? 14. If you do not, do you not get even? 15. When you get revenge, do you want to hurt as much as you were hurt? Why? 16. When you get revenge, do you want to feel good and satisfied? Why? 17. When you get revenge, are you seeking justice and compensation for the dama- ge suffered? 18. Is vengeance the same thing as justice?