tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post9125482288946384738..comments2024-03-27T12:13:34.159-05:00Comments on The Moral Premise Blog: Story Structure Craft: THE ILLUSIONISTUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-2157012776850658362007-02-03T20:44:00.000-05:002007-02-03T20:44:00.000-05:00Dear Smart: Skepticism vs Faith by themselves is n...Dear Smart: Skepticism vs Faith by themselves is not a moral premise, you are right. In my book, The Moral Premise, I provide an historical and storytelling explanation of how stories are really about the conflict of two values, and the consequences that result from embracing one value or the other. In the Illusionist, I think (and you can disagree and debate this with me and others), the two values are Faith in the existence and power of the supernatural, vs. Skepticism in the existence and power of the supernatural (or Faith in the natural world that can be explained only through scientific materialism.) The physical consequence of faith in the supernatural (which the movie portrays) is life in paradise, or eternal life. The consequence of faith in scientific materialism is death. Thus, the short hand MP: Faith leads to life, Skepticism leads to death. <br /><br />Now, please feel free to suggest another moral premise with the ideas you present, e.g. "threat to one's life" vs. "saving the girl from oppression." Both of those are physical consequences. For those to fit the model of a moral premise the story must depict a value (in the life of a character) that leads to one consequence, and the opposite value that leads to the other consequence. Making it real simple a generic MP is this: Mental vice leads to physical problems; but mental virtue leads to physical harmony. (S.W.)Stan Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12084603289444240062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-61583600195167279932007-02-03T17:57:00.000-05:002007-02-03T17:57:00.000-05:00How is skepticism vs faith a moral premise? I thou...How is skepticism vs faith a moral premise? I thought the morality would saving the girl from oppression vs danger to one's self?smarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09418159881899701528noreply@blogger.com