The Ethics of Potions

The Ethics of Potions:

Potions, like most things in life have pros and cons, what are these and how do they affect the average 1st year potions student?

I will organize this essay by beginning with a basic history of the connotations of potions, then branching in to their dangers, their necessity and finding the balance when using potions.

Potions under correct, good and honest use can be of great help and perhaps save many a life. Yet we must be careful and vigilant to ensure that students understand the necessity of good morals and ethics, even on the basic level of a wart removal potion.

1. Connotations:

Potions have long had many negative connotations in the muggle world. Going back to the mid-evil times witches, wizards and potions have been involved in nefarious, clandestine activities.

Edgar Moran said, “Mixing up the potion is only a small portion of the whole ordeal. The quality of a potion-maker is determined by how he uses the potion, rather than how he made it.”

Potions and magic in general have the very real problem of being used for either good or evil. This is not helped by the media's love of telling only the bad examples rather than the good.

“Many potions may be used to benefit or harm others. Take, for example, the Draught of Living Death. While Healer Ren Russelburn modified the recipe to be administered to patients during particularly complex surgeries, her co-worker Herman Quigley used the same potion to render his patients unconscious while Quigley stole their money. Russelburn earned herself the Outstanding Healer Award, while Quigley was promptly dismissed and sent to Azkaban. “ [1]

The above example demonstrates that potions have can profound effect or a miserable one. The severity of the consequ...

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...vancement to the wizarding world.

The balance of the good and bad relies nearly entirely on those who exercise there potion making abilities.

It is up to the young wizard to have the common sense to use them safely, and honorably and yet it takes a great wizard to know when a strong potion is needed.

When young wizards and witches makes the right decisions when using potions it can lead them into the history books as a brilliant potion-maker, when the make they wrong it can lead them to a Azkaban.

Potions under correct, good and honest use can be of great help and perhaps save many a life. Yet we must be careful and vigilant whenever we create a potion to consider every circumstance and consequence before taking action.

Works Cited

[1] "Magical Drafts and Potions" Chapter 1

[2] "Magical Drafts and Potions" Chapter 8

[3] "Magical Drafts and Potions" Chapter 6