kirstyes

E is for Ethics

(Post 5 on my WIP)

Travelling through time could easily become quite messy (think of the warnings Hermione gives Harry when they are using the Time-Turner in Prisoner of Azkaban) and so the Commander has drafted in Dr (of Philosophy) Grace Aire to teach the Ethics of Time Policing to the trainees. Their first assignment sees them select a scenario and apply the relevant ten ethical principles to this. Jane’s scenario proves to be a little more than simply hypothetical.

Could Cate Blanchett play Dr Grace Aire? (Image from imdb.com)

Ethics of Time Policing

1.    Time police should not use their position to their own personal advantage.
2.    Time police should be as sure as they can be of the guilt of a suspect before returning to the past scene of a crime to apprehend the subject.
3.    Time police should only use time travel to protect the lives of those they have been authorised to do so.
4.    Time travel is not to be used to protect property except when this has been identified as of national, world or universal significance.
5.    Time police should at all times display honesty in their dealings with members of the public and each other, expect in situations where honesty will pose a safety risk.
6.    Time police are not authorised to use terminal force except in the preservation of the life of themselves, a fellow time cop or an innocent bystander.
7.    Time police must identify themselves as such before apprehending a subject.
8.    Time police should respect the equality and diversity of all and not discriminate against anyone on the basis of age, colour, gender, sexuality, etc.
9.    Time police should not allow any authorised personnel access to time travel technology, including selling technological software, hardware and documentation.
10.    Time police report to the state and protect the city and time which they serve. Time police should obey all orders given by superiors unless they have sufficient evidence to suggest that an order contravenes one of the other nine directives.

Can you identify which of the ethical principles would you find it most difficult to uphold, and why?