On Mon, 3 May 1999, Steven Cornett wrote:

On 03-May-99, Ranma Al'Thor wrote:

On Mon, 3 May 1999, David Johnston wrote:
[snip David's Story]

Well done, David.  That's basically the line of thought I followed when
constructing the history of Crystal Tokyo in my Black Moon Rising
Universe.  The Sailor Moon Universe is one in which evil magic is real and
evil is a metaphysical force.  This means that certain real world
philosophical questions have to be looked at in another light, in a world
where one can be forced to become evil against your will or corrupted by
dark energies.  

   Do I have to do so, John?  

   Many religions see evil as a metaphysical force or personification
(i.e. Satan in Christianity), but evil is primarily within us.  The 
forces in our souls that can corrupt us, such as lust, greed, envy,
and the will to power, are *not* externally imposed forces, but a 
part of our internal makeup!  It is how we harness those forces in the
choices we make that decide how good or evil we are.

But Sailor Moon isn't set in the Real Universe.  Evil in that universe can
be imposed externally against one's will.  Just look at the Rainbow
Crystal episodes.  Thus, real-world philosophical statements, however
valid they may be, do not necessarily apply.

 

   Even in the everyday universe, people are forced to perform evil
deeds by those who have power over them.  A secret policeman can 
capture you and try to force you to confess to subversion, and turn 
in those you agree with you.  A soldier can capture you and make you
assist him in killing your fellow troopmates, or your family, or even
try to force you to dig other's graves.  Many succumb to this and do 
the deed.

The policeman cannot wave his magic twaggler at you and suddenly you are
possessed by a demon.  The policeman cannot FORCE you to do anything in
the same sense that Jadeite can when he drains your energy and turns you
into a zombie. The cop can merely apply pressures to you which may make
you decide to give in to his will.  Ultimately, it's your choice
whether or not to accede to his wishes.  Jadeite can rob you of will.
Demand can open his third eye and take control of your mind.  So
can dark energies.  Whether or not they exist in our universe, they DO
exist in the Sailor Moon universe. And that puts a different twist on this
situation.
 

   So simply because there are big bad metaphysical forces that can 
apply more pressure does *not* negate the fundimental choice: Do I 
do the right thing.

There are metaphysical forces in the SM universe which it is basically
impossible for the average person to resist.  People turned into youma are
without hope unless someone else saves them.  It is not a matter of 'Do
what I want or die', it's a matter of 'I'm going to take control of your
brain and you simply cannot resist me.'  This makes things quite
different.



John Walter Biles :  MA-History, Ph.D Wannabe at U. Kansas         
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu       
rhea@tass.org              http://www.tass.org/~rhea/falcon.html
rhea@maison-otaku.net      http://www.maison-otaku.net/~rhea/

"The candy beneath you is disgraceful."
--Don't ask.