Beyond Logic

I. The Pizza Argument

"Surely, the victims have their fair share to the circumstances that lead to them being raped. They made a choice and they, too, have to live with those consequences." The professor said as he looked around the room and scanned for any reactions. Although the crowd were appalled as to what the professor just said, none of them made an effort to disagree.

Alex couldn't take it anymore and raised her hand, "Ah. Do you have any comment Miss, your name please?"

"Alexandra Montenegro but please call me Alex." She said, flatly.

"Is there something that you want to share with the class, Alex?"

Alex took a deep breath before she started. She's been listening to the professor went on and on about moral theories when he came up with the most insulting and appalling case that he could ever make. She is not new with how Philosophy classes work. She had spent the previous three years of her college career taking different classes but among all of them, Philosophy has always been her forte. She was never scared to question what is being forced down her throat and one of her previous professor commended her for questioning what is being taught to her and for critically analyzing different point of views.

She looked at the professor in the eyes, "Suppose I came here today with a slice of pizza and upon seeing it you realize that you haven't eaten anything since last night and it would be really, really, nice if you could eat something before you go on to this two-hour class and the easiest way for you to satisfy your craving and your hunger is to take my pizza. "

"I don't see where you're going with this but please go on."

"An opportunity knocks; I went outside and leave my pizza unattended. Now sir, seeing that you're starving and you're really craving for pizza, would you take my pizza?"

"I suppose not." The professor answered.

By this time the entire class went silent and all attention were on her and the professor.

"And why is that, sir?" she asked.

He smiled, finally realizing where she is going with the pizza analogy, "Well, because it is wrong. That is your pizza and I have no right to take it from you not unless I ask your permission."

"I see," she paused, "then tell me this sir, why is it so easy for you, or for us, to recognize that it is wrong to take someone else's pizza and yet it is so easy for us to live with the fact that one can easily take away someone's dignity, let alone someone else's life? How is it easy for you to argue that it is the rape victim's fault that she got raped when clearly, she did not give permission to someone to abuse her body? How is it so easy for anyone to respect something as trivial as pizza and yet we are still arguing the rightness and wrongness of taking someone else's dignity? For a lack of a better term, sir, don't you think your line of reasoning here is just fucked up?"

She heard her peers gasped, others nodded, and the rest looked as surprised as she was. The professor looked at her with a smile lingering on his face and what can only be interpreted as a genuine respect.

"Very well said, Alex. Now, class that is an example of what kind or reasoning and logic I am expecting from all of you. This is Philosophy class, for god's sake. Speak up if the ideas I present does not sit well with you. Having said that, please read the chapter on cultural subjectivism for next class. That's all for today. And Alex, looking forward to have you in this class."

Alex nodded and gathered her things as she was ready to leave. She did not like the attention. Nor it was her intention to put the spotlight on herself. She was just pissed by the way the professor had presented the argument.

Just as she was about to pick up her bag, a guy appeared in front of her,

"Can I just say how fucking brilliant your argument was. I've taken a lot of courses with Dublin but this is the first time that he didn't even bother retorting on your argument." The guy said with a smile on his face.

Alex didn't know how to react. Apart from being socially awkward, the guy standing in front of her is, as what her friends would call, fucking hot.

She smiled, "Oh, thanks. I didn't really think anyone actually paid attention. I was actually kind of embarrassed."

"Well, don't be. I think you're really impressive. I'm Sebastian by the way." He said as he extended his hand.

"Wow, you got a really hot name. Not that you're not hot 'cause you're...definitely...are," before she could realize what she was saying, her face already turned red, "I'm Alex by the way."

"I know and the pleasure is mine." He said with an easy smile on his face - indicating that it was not the first time that someone has commented on his obviously appealing physical attributes.

The two gave each other a look that lingered longer than it should. They walked out of the lecture hall together as many of Alex's new classmates commended her for the comment she had made.

"Wow, you're star of the class now. Gotta keep that reputation up." Sebastian joked.

"Now I am actually regretting opening my mouth. Should've kept it shut." She said still trying to hide her reddening face due to the attention she's been getting - not to mention the hot guy standing beside her.

Sebastian stopped walking just as they got out of the lecture hall, "So," he started, "do you have time to grab coffee?"