Omelas

[cjsmith]

I was recently reminded again (thank you, minoanmiss!) of the story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.

I love that story.

It's not a comfortable story, not exactly a delight to read*, but it speaks powerfully. LeGuin was a clear thinker and very philosophical. (I own a book of her essays, written later in life, and I have that illusion that readers get, that I know her a little bit through her writings. She's on the short list of people I really wish I could have had dinner with in my lifetime.)

Anyway, the reminder made me think of how strongly that story has affected how I think about people.

Omelas poses a question that, to me, has become one of the things I sort of form guesses about as I get to know people. Would this person ever walk away from Omelas? I don't always have an answer, but if I get to know the person for a while, I form a guess.

I know, love, and trust some people who wouldn't. I treasure those who I think would, and I trust them in a much deeper way.

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* see also the difference between enjoying a book and being glad you read it

Comments

[noelfigart]

I'd never read that story before.

I read it drinking a cup of coffee and eating a bite of Lindt chocolate.

I suppose... I suppose I haven't walked away yet, have I?

[cjsmith]

Not 100%, and neither have I. In the real world, it's not 100% or 0%; the difficulty of achieving 100% is immense. "There is no ethical" etc.

Still, I do find that I can run the thought-experiment on "what if" I were dropped in actual Omelas, or "what if" someone else were, and I have guesses. My job is to remember they are just guesses while also becoming aware of my mental model of things.

[noelfigart]

I would like to think I would.

I am not sure how much genuine courage I show in RL.

[cjsmith]

Same. I do know that I'd at least consider it.