I just don't see that as being possible. Morality isn't so simply learned as taking a pill and it isn't so simply denied as taking a pill. Furthermore, why focus that fear around this specific drug? People already use alcohol or other commonly-obtained drugs as an excuse to rationalize their own bad behavior. Alcohol and other commonly-obtained drugs are currently used to coerce or influence people already. Psychological programming currently exists. And yet? The world has yet to fall apart, at least not completely.
Propranolol isn't doing anything that can't already be done, it's merely simplifying the process. With proper diagnosis, treatment and social support, PTSD can be conquered or at least controlled. All propanolol is doing is speeding up that process by addressing the neurological component of the disorder. Again, Louise hasn't forgotten that she was raped. It's not like it's suddenly "okay" that it happened--it's just that now she can think about what happened and not completely come unglued.
Like puf_almighty says it's not like people will be like, "Wait, that time I got raped, was that good or bad?"
Morality (or "ethics", if you prefer) aren't tied to one's emotional state. Even if I suffered no personal cost and knew I could take a drug that would keep me from feeling the physical manifestations of guilt, I wouldn't kick someone to death...because, really, I just wouldn't kick someone to death.
The soldier thing...Okay, I mean this in the kindest way, really. Have you ever actually spoken with a soldier? I find that quite often the people who are most convinced that they understand the mentality of the soldier are people who've never even met one, let alone had a serious discussion of the ethics of war. This might not be true for you, but I wonder--because I have known all kinds of soldiers. I grew up on US Army bases or very nearby and have spent the vast majority of my adult life in areas of US military import. Because of my upbringing I am pre-disposed to an extra level of friendliness toward military personnel and I very much enjoy talking to them whenever I can. The idea that any random service member is nothing more than a simple automaton awaiting the right magic pill or codeword or other sci-fi/fantasy programming device to turn into an amoral, unthinking killing machine is not only ridiculous, it is quite bluntly insulting to the many fine, intelligent, caring men and women I've met and the infinite number more I'll never even see or consider. The bad apples that currently exist (and they ARE the minority) who think that killing kids or shooting innocent civilians or raping or maiming or whatever don't need a drug to justify their actions and those who find it immoral will still find it immoral even if it doesn't make their stomach churn.
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Re: don't misread my intentions
Date: 2007-10-03 08:25 pm (UTC)Propranolol isn't doing anything that can't already be done, it's merely simplifying the process. With proper diagnosis, treatment and social support, PTSD can be conquered or at least controlled. All propanolol is doing is speeding up that process by addressing the neurological component of the disorder. Again, Louise hasn't forgotten that she was raped. It's not like it's suddenly "okay" that it happened--it's just that now she can think about what happened and not completely come unglued.
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Morality (or "ethics", if you prefer) aren't tied to one's emotional state. Even if I suffered no personal cost and knew I could take a drug that would keep me from feeling the physical manifestations of guilt, I wouldn't kick someone to death...because, really, I just wouldn't kick someone to death.
The soldier thing...Okay, I mean this in the kindest way, really. Have you ever actually spoken with a soldier? I find that quite often the people who are most convinced that they understand the mentality of the soldier are people who've never even met one, let alone had a serious discussion of the ethics of war. This might not be true for you, but I wonder--because I have known all kinds of soldiers. I grew up on US Army bases or very nearby and have spent the vast majority of my adult life in areas of US military import. Because of my upbringing I am pre-disposed to an extra level of friendliness toward military personnel and I very much enjoy talking to them whenever I can. The idea that any random service member is nothing more than a simple automaton awaiting the right magic pill or codeword or other sci-fi/fantasy programming device to turn into an amoral, unthinking killing machine is not only ridiculous, it is quite bluntly insulting to the many fine, intelligent, caring men and women I've met and the infinite number more I'll never even see or consider. The bad apples that currently exist (and they ARE the minority) who think that killing kids or shooting innocent civilians or raping or maiming or whatever don't need a drug to justify their actions and those who find it immoral will still find it immoral even if it doesn't make their stomach churn.