I’d be really uncomfortable with the whole babies’-blood thing. I understand Pallas’ reasons for not destroying the stuff, and I don’t question her wisdom, but what is wise for a goddess is not necessarily wise for a mortal.
Usually, my reaction to this sort of scenario would be to accept the vial of nectar, not for either my direct benefit nor for anyone else’s, but for study of it, to see if there might be some way to produce an equivalent substance from more ethical sources. In this case, though, given that the current custodian is Pallas Athene, I presume she’s already much better equipped to do so than any team I could put together. So I would instead request that she do something of the sort, and volunteer my services as a test subject for any experimental elixirs she might produce along that line, with the understanding that experimental elixirs usually don’t work (my hypothetical wife could volunteer, too, but that’s not a decision I can make for her).
And as to option 5, while I’m sure that Athena’s divine boobies are indeed perfectly delectable, and I don’t recall the story of Acteon specifically, it still strikes me as inherently incredibly foolish to actually ask for anything concerning said boobies.
As I’ve pointed out before, unicorns are symbols of that Carpenter fellow whom the Xtians worship. I’m pretty sure Athena does not keep them in stock.
As written upthread I only threw the baby’s blood thing in to explain why this dose of nectar was the absolute last, and so really didn’t think it through. But do you really think it would be wiser to have destroyed all the nectar? Who could benefit from that, given that it wouldn’t resurrect the babies? Also…
How is using the nectar for experimental purposes any less morally questionable than using it for its intended purpose?
I actually made a mistake there, and I’m pretty surprised nobody noticed. Acteon peeked at Artemis bathing, not Athena, and for his impudence was torn apart by her hunting dogs. The mortal who invaded Athena’s privacy was Tiresias (also from the story of Oedipus), who was only struck him blind.
Wise for whom? I’ve already stated that I don’t question Athena’s wisdom on the matter, but just because it was wise for her to keep it doesn’t mean it’s wise for me. We can’t bring the babies back, but the babies aren’t the only one whose welfare is at stake. For a mortal to keep and benefit from such a thing would corrupt that mortal, because once you’ve accepted one benefit drawing from the harm of another, it becomes easier to accept the next such benefit, which probably would be something which could be prevented. Athena can, perhaps, be trusted with that temptation, but I cannot.
Now, that question is a lot trickier. Part of me says that there’s less risk of corruption from an act that benefits all of humanity than there is from an act that just benefits specifically myself or my loved ones. But part of me is also forced to admit that I, personally, place an unusually high value on scientific research, and, well, everyone has a price.
My wife, definitely. My body’s still not all that far off my prime, but my wife hasn’t been so lucky. It would be great to be able to do active outdoor stuff together.
My first thought was taking for myself, because I’m old and out of shape and my wife, while only a year younger, is extremely healthy and smokin’ hot.
But, I’d hate to have to watch her eventually age and die while I live another 30 years longer. Not to mention I’d probably have to watch my kids get old and die as well.
And I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t want to sit around and watch the rest of us get old and die without her, either. So thanks, Athena, but I’m just gonna walk away from this one.
All medicines have to be trialled on people, which results in lots of harm (but theoretically prevents a greater amount).
The work conditions of today are better than the ones of yesterday, but probably worse than the ones of the future. Compared to the vantage of someone 100-200 years hence, our work conditions might be considerd harmful to the labor force, meaning that all our products today are based on harm to the common man.
I’m sure I could come up with more examples. You’re already corrupted.
Sorry but those do not hold up as ethical comparisons. Benefiting from trial in which people sign up with informed consent that ends up resulting in harm and no benefit until a new treatment modification is not the same as babies being killed.
I for one get that no benefit is gained by my refusal and appreciate Athena’s wisdom. And I refuse with hesitation. Would I ignore knowledge gained by the Tuskagee experiments because it was gained by unethical means? Even, fully Godwinizing, would I ignore knowledge that would have societal gain that had been determined by experimenting on prisoners in a death camp, to a point that equalled torture? I doubt it: I’d appreciate that the harm was a done deal and that giving societal benefit is a greater good. But the direct personal benefit gained by unethically imposed harm to others crosses a line that I could not live with. My selfish interest would prefer a shorter life that did not benefit from that cost.
And yeah, some of us feel that we may be over 50 but still just closing in on our primes.
It seems some tellings of Acteon’s tale do substitute Athena for Artemis, so you’re good.
At least, that’s the version I remember.
Still, maybe we should forget about poor Acteon. Otherwise we might get sidetracked into discussing the ethical dilemmas that surround the acts of peeping on gods and hunting humans.
I have the lion’s share of physical illnesses in the family, so I’ll take it myself. Just going back to 25 wouldn’t be enough if I still had the encroaching fibromyalgia crap to look forward to. If I have more energy and health I’ll be in a better position to take care of him, but I don’t think it would make enough difference to him for it to work that way in the other direction.
I would end up taking it after a consultation with the GF, there is a considerable age difference already and even after popping back down to 25 I would still be older. I cannot imagine her taking it she would force it down my throat.
Different boon. We signed up to the standard lifetime contract, and whatever happens to us, it will happen in a reasonably equitable fashion that we can both cope with. We’re both followers of that Carpenter bloke and we are more than content with what will come next, thanks. Perhaps an annual weekend on a remote but comfortable Greek island?
