You're absolutely right, of course! Thanks for your comment.
Perhaps one reason Rowling doesn't show any moral education is that, in order to do so, she would have to *define* a morality for the Wizarding World. She'd also have to define Dark Arts, which she never does. The only thing we learn (in DH) is that the damage they cause is permanent (that is, real), while all other magic is reversible.
So I suppose, if Dudley had actually choked to death thanks to Fred and George's ton-tongue toffee, he could have been resurrected? Because it wasn't a dark spell?
But, though the moral/ethical aspect is what bothers me most*, it's also true that little or no thought seems to go into *education* in the Wizarding World. Snape is one of the very few who seems to teach anything foundational (ingredients, their properties and combinations), and *no one* seems to teach writing, rhetoric - that is, evaluating information, logic, and argument - research skills, or anything at all about the scientific method. It's all just rote memorization and practice of physical skills. It's no wonder that wizards seem to be such ignoramuses!
And you're right that almost nothing in the books suggests that Wizards and Muggles are equally human. On the contrary, there's a great deal to suggest otherwise - the casual use of "Obliviate", to take one example.
Re: moral education
Perhaps one reason Rowling doesn't show any moral education is that, in order to do so, she would have to *define* a morality for the Wizarding World. She'd also have to define Dark Arts, which she never does. The only thing we learn (in DH) is that the damage they cause is permanent (that is, real), while all other magic is reversible.
So I suppose, if Dudley had actually choked to death thanks to Fred and George's ton-tongue toffee, he could have been resurrected? Because it wasn't a dark spell?
But, though the moral/ethical aspect is what bothers me most*, it's also true that little or no thought seems to go into *education* in the Wizarding World. Snape is one of the very few who seems to teach anything foundational (ingredients, their properties and combinations), and *no one* seems to teach writing, rhetoric - that is, evaluating information, logic, and argument - research skills, or anything at all about the scientific method. It's all just rote memorization and practice of physical skills. It's no wonder that wizards seem to be such ignoramuses!
And you're right that almost nothing in the books suggests that Wizards and Muggles are equally human. On the contrary, there's a great deal to suggest otherwise - the casual use of "Obliviate", to take one example.
Thanks again for your comment.