Question on Civil Liberties: Harry Potter and the Hobbesean Sovereign
From the comments on the last Harry Potter post:
elanaranne:I was actually looking up the Wizengamot today and both the Lexicon and the wikia agree that it's rare for the accused to have the equivalent of our lawyers. It can happen, but it's only an option. Despite this making me go o______o at Hogwarts' legal system, it might shed some light on the lack of ( Read more... )
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The first thing that springs to mind is, honestly, the saying, "ignorance is bliss". And the next thing that I think is: well, no, it's not, because ignorance is often the fuel for hatred and bigotry.
I definitely think you're onto something here, although it saddens me that wizarding society should still be so backward. I remember, also, Arthur Weasley saying once that if the Muggles knew about wizards, they'd (the wizards) be endlessly harrassed for magical solutions to their problems. It makes me wonder what happens to those who wish for greater freedom, democracy, and integration -- I can't imagine, for example, Hermione being such a willing citizen.
What happens, then, especially after Voldemort's defeat? There would be a dangerously thin line between "keeping the wizarding world secret" and "anti-Muggle prejudice", I should think. It makes me wonder, again, what would be the reaction should a Hogwarts (or equivalent) graduate want to complete Muggle education as well, ( ... )
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When figuring out a different world the former is way more important than the latter, so don't worry about it.
Although it saddens me that wizarding society should still be so backward. I remember, also, Arthur Weasley saying once that if the Muggles knew about wizards, they'd (the wizards) be endlessly harrassed for magical solutions to their problems. It makes me wonder what happens to those who wish for greater freedom, democracy, and integration -- I can't imagine, for example, Hermione being such a willing citizen.Neither can I. And I imagine Mr. Weasley's treatment in the Ministry gives some suggestion about what happens to those who fall closer to the integration side of the spectrum: their work is ignored, they're mocked and ostracised from influential groups. If someone actively advocated integration with muggle society I imagine they'd suffer all that plus the Ministry keeping constant watch on them. On the other hand, ( ... )
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