The Ethics of Potions: Potions, like most things in life, have pros and cons, what are these and how do they affect the average first year Potions student? I will organize this essay by starting with a basic history of the connotations of potions, then branching out to their dangers, necessity, and finding balance when using potions. Potions, if used correctly, well and honestly, can be of great help and perhaps save many lives. However, we must be careful and vigilant to ensure that students understand the need for good morals and ethics, even at the basic level of a wart removal potion.1. Connotations: Potions have long had many negative connotations in the Muggle world. Going back to medieval times, witches, wizards and potions have been involved in nefarious and clandestine activities. Edgar Moran said: “Mixing the potion is only a small part of the whole ordeal. The quality of a potion maker is determined by how he uses the potion, rather than how he created it. Potions and magic in general have the real problem of being used for both good and evil. This isn't helped by the media's love of reporting only the bad examples rather than the good ones. “Many potions can be used to benefit or harm others. Take, for example, the Living Death Project. While healer Ren Russelburn modified the recipe to administer to patients during particularly complex surgeries, his colleague Herman Quigley used the same potion to make his patients unconscious while Quigley stole their money. Russelburn earned the Outstanding Healer award, while Quigley was promptly fired and sent to Azkaban. “[1]The above example demonstrates that potions have a profound or miserable effect. The severity of the consequences… half of the document… advancement in the wizarding world. The balance between good and evil depends almost entirely on those who wield potion-making skills there. It is up to a young wizard to have the good sense to use them safely and honorably, yet it takes a great wizard to know when a strong potion is needed. When young witches and wizards make the right decisions when using potions it can land them in the history books as a brilliant potion maker, when they get it wrong it can land them in Azkaban. Potions, if used correctly, well and honestly, can be of great help and perhaps save many lives. However, we must be careful and vigilant whenever we create a potion to consider every circumstance and consequence before acting. Works Cited[1] "Potions and Magic Potions" Chapter 1[2] "Potions and Magic Potions" Chapter 8[3] "Potions and Magic Potions" Chapter 6