Moral Question

[Jin]

If you were given the choice to either recieve 1 billion dollars and in the process have one person in the world die that you didn't know, or you be killed instead. Which would you choose? I would chose the second, but before you answer, think about what you would actually do if you were forced to make either decision.

[Ginkasa]

When you say that one perosn dies that I don't know, do you mean I don't not know that person or I don't know who will be killed?



I'd probably choose the billion dollars because

1. I'd live
2. If I did choose to die the other guy wouldn't get 1 billion would he?
3. Its probably better for one person to die and another perosn be happy than it is for just one perosn to die right?

[Xantar]

When I really think about it, I'd take the first. I don't really think I could live with myself if I knowingly caused someone else to die. Yeah, by being successful, by definition I cause other people to fail, but it's not quite as direct. Call me a sop, but I just don't think I could enjoy those billion dollars. If I chose to take that money, I think I'd invest it somewhere and start giving the earnings to charity for the rest of my life to make up for what I did to that other person.

Of course, this situation isn't really complete. What if the other person were dying of a disease—had only days left to live anyway? I could see myself taking the money in that case. On the other hand, if it were some really important person whose death would cause a war (like perhaps the current leader of Afghanistan), I don't really think I could take the billion dollars.

But if I had no idea who it was that was going to die, I don't think I could take the money. I'm just not capable of placing a value on human life that way.

Great topic, by the way.

*prepares to hand out some doubloons*

[marionette]

well not being so serious, i'd take to 1 million dollars, and the person to die i would chose to be osama bin laden :D
if i had to actually make that decision..i dont know it would be a hard one. but i'd probally chose the 2nd one..

[Joeiss]

I would take the billion dollars. Why? Because like Link said, it would be better if one person was happy. I mean, why not take the billion? I think Xantar said in a previous thread that if you put a billion dollars into a savings bond or something, lets just say at 3%, then you can make 30 milllion a year. So, if you think that you know who dies because of your choice (it would be hard to know, because many, many, many people die each die) then donate that 30 million to his/her family or something.

[Mechadragon]

I think I would take the money as well. I hate to be a greedy arse but thats just the truth:(

[gekko]

Put it this way. If someone walked up to you and asked if he could kill you, would you say yes or no? I wouldn't die for no reason. I wouldn't let someone kill me because he makes a threat that he will kill someone else in the world.

People die everyday. Tons of people get murdered, it's not anything new. People die everyday and you don't know who they are, and you never care. It's not like we can't stop it, can't get a job protecting these people. We just don't care enough to. I don't see why this situation would be any different.

It's his job to protect himself, just as it's my job to protect myself. The only thing I have to worry about is getting myself out of there alive. He should be making an effort to escape.

I would never give my life over a threat. There are few things worth dying for, this isn't one.

[One Winged Angel]

I would probably take the billion dollars. It's not for the money mostly, it's I wouldn't give up my life for someone I dont know. Plus you wont live anymore. You could go to heaven or hell. Maybe there isn't either of them. I would want to live my life to the fullest.

If it was someone I knew that would be killed it would be a totally different subject.

[Perfect Stu]

When I think about it now, I would let the person kill me.

But if I was in the situation, I would probably take the money, and donate it all to cure some disease...that is, after I kill the bastard that makes the offer :mad2:

[GameMaster]

I would take the money, sadly, there are plenty of people who deserve to die. That's the human species for you though.:rolleyes:

[nWoCHRISnWo]

I wouldn't even have to think about that for a second, I'd choose the money. No doubt about it.

If I die, it wouldn't matter to me who's alive, because I wouldn't exist. I put my life above everything.

[Jin]

I think it's alright to take the money if you donate a good percentage to a good cause, but if you just keep it and spend it selfishly that's just greedy. I couldn't enjoy spending that money if I knew I had taken away someone's life. It's like if you steal a Snickers from the grocery store, while you're eating it, it'll be more of an unpleasant guilt trip than something satisfactional. Well, atleast for me.

[D-Man]

Well, I'm more like Chris, I put my live above anyone else's (for now atleast cause I'm single). If I don't know the guy, I don't think I'd care much about him, and I'd happily take the billion dollar.

I don't know why some people would rather die than kill someone else..

[TheGrimReaper]

Id take the money.

[Joeiss]

Originally posted by D-Man
Well, I'm more like Chris, I put my live above anyone else's (for now atleast cause I'm single). If I don't know the guy, I don't think I'd care much about him, and I'd happily take the billion dollar.

I don't know why some people would rather die than kill someone else..

Because some people here actually care for people that they do not even know! :eek: I know, it is shocking. I guess we just have to put up with those damn nice people. ;)



:D

[nWoCHRISnWo]

For the people who'd rather die, it just doesn't make any sense. Either way, one person is gonna die. So you're saying you value other people's lives (strangers) more than your own?

[BreakABone]

Hmm now this is an easy one. I guess I'll give my answer then give my reasons.

I would take the money.

Now the simple fact of the matter is the human mind has a way of protecting it's subjects. If I was to collect the money, then your mind would activate it's defense mechanisms and go through this whole phase of rationalization. Which basically is your mind allowing you to make up all sort of excuses that the person dead isn't your fault.


Now from a normal standpoint
If I was to collect the money I could do a lot more to help mankind then allowing one person to live. If I was a kind hearted person (And notice the word IF) I could help out the homeless or the hungry. I think that helping out a large group of people is a bit more satisfying then helping out one.

[Joeiss]

Thinking about it a bit more... I think that the only way I would deny the money is if I was told who the person is that would die. If that person was somebody of great importance, than I might spare their life. Actually, the only person I would probably deny the money and die would be for the Pope.

[GameMaster]

Terrorist up above!!! :eek:

:D ;)

[Jin]

What if you were in a situation where a car was heading towards someone you didn't know and they weren't looking, would you push them out of the way and lose your own life, or let them get killed in front of you own eyes?

[GameMaster]

I would save them. As for the car, "Strike me down, and I shall become far, far, more powerful than you can imagine."

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Let them get killed. Why would you value some stranger's life over your own?

[GameMaster]

Because I'm caring and compassionate. Yourself?

[ed328]

I would have to choose my life.

Thinking about it rationally and reasonably, it really comes down to whether I value my life over someone else's life, which I do. The money shouldn't enter into the equation. I wouldn't hold myself responsible for that other person's life, as it's not my responsibility to protect their life. All this is taking the types of decisions we make in our lives to the greatest extreme. For example, lets say you're an athlete who gets offered a scholarship. You know if you refuse, someone else will get it that wouldn't have before. Does that mean you should give your scholarship (life) just so that he can get a scholarship (life)? No, it doesn't. Since I would be receiving the money as a bonus, I would probably use it to improve the educational system.

Edit to add:
I also think this is a loaded question as it is based a lot on religious beliefs. If you believe in an afterlife, which I don't, you'll be much more likely to sacrifice yourself believing that you're life won't be over. Since I don't believe that, I'm obviously much more inclined to choose my own life since I believe that it is the only one I have.

I would also have to choose myself in the car situation as well.

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Originally posted by Gamemaster2002
Because I'm caring and compassionate. Yourself?

Putting a stranger's life over your life isn't being caring, it's called being an idiot. Since when do you care for everyone else over yourself? Do you donate all your money to charities? Do you often give stranger's your money?

[Xantar]

My initial thought was that I would indeed take the money and let the other person die. But when I really look down into myself and think, I can't be rational about it. For me, this isn't an intellectual issue. If it were, I'd be joining nWoCHRISnWo and all the others enjoying a billion dollars.

But I can't see it as letting another person die. The question states that because I take the money, someone else dies. As a direct result of my actions, someone dies. I am in effect killing someone, and as much as I may take about being capable of killing, it is not something I ever want to do.

And moreover, the other person never asked for it. He or she is guilty of nothing.

I can understand on an intellectual level that the problem boils down to me choosing my own life or someone else's life, but at the gut level I don't see it that way. I have the feeling that if I were to take the money, I would feel for the rest of my life as if I had accepted a billion dollars to kill someone else. And remember, this question doesn't ask what you should do. It asks what you would.

[GameMaster]

Originally posted by nWoCHRISnWo


Putting a stranger's life over your life isn't being caring, it's called being an idiot. Since when do you care for everyone else over yourself? Do you donate all your money to charities? Do you often give stranger's your money?

Since when is caring giving people money Chris? Only in your family right? :D :rolleyes:

[nWoCHRISnWo]

I wasn't even thinking of the billions dollars really. Just look at it like this: You're gonna be responsible for ONE person's death, no matter what. So why would you be guilty of saving your own life and in the process ending someone else's (who never asked to be in the situation)? Sure, you wouldn't want to kill someone. But if you die, then everyone who loves you won't ever be the same again. So in reality, you're giving up your life, the well-being of people you love, and then the billion dollars for a stranger's life? That's just too much for me.

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Since when is caring for people giving them money? Since millions of people in this world are poor and starving.

[GameMaster]

Well, I agree with you to some point but I believe caring is also giving one love and support, sometimes more than money can offer.

[Jin]

It's not being an idiot, it's being selfless. If everyone cared about other people more than themselves this world would be a much better place. Were the fire fighters that ran into the World Trade Center Towers idiots even though they knew they had the possibility of dieing for a stranger, someone who they never met in their lives? Was Jesus an idiot?

Why are people willing to give their lives for others? Is it because they don't value their lives enough? Of course not. I respect these kinds of people, because they are willing to give the most important thing they have away so that someone else can have it. If you believe in a spiritual world, then these people will be most respected and honored. Not the people who wanted everything for themselves, not caring how they affected other people.

If you don't believe there is a spiritual world, than taking the money would seem more logical. I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather believe in it. What good is not believing in it and living a self-centered life? If there is a spiritual world, you'll have to go through a lot of regret and suffering, and if there isn't, you will just dissapear. What kind of future is that? It's a lose-lose situation. On the other hand, if you do believe in it and live an unselfish life, and there is a life after death, then you'll be in paradise. If there isn't, then you'll just dissapear. So its a win-lose situation. It doesn't do much good to not to believe in it.

[GameMaster]

Thank you Jin! Someone else here has a soul!

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Yes, because deciding my life is more important that a stranger's life is being so so selfish and uncaring. I'm a grade A asshole for that, eh? :rolleyes:

Jin, the thing is I don't believe in afterlife. The fact is that nobody is guaranteed more than one life (the life we're living now...). So lif this could be the only life I get, why would I make it shorter for someone else's benefits? If I died, it's not like I would be happy with myself for such a good deed, because I couldn't feel ANYTHING for myself as I'd be non-existent.

If you want to discuss religion, just tell me but it'll make for a long read.

And firefighters do what they do because it's saving one person. They *could* die, but so could a lot of things people do. Either way in your question, one person dies, so why would I choose my life over someone else's? It's not my fault this other guy's gonna die, I look out for myself. His/her life isn't my responsibility.

[D-Man]

It all comes down to this question:

What you would rather do?:

-Kill someone?
-Or die?

It's not that I don't believe in an after life, it's just that since it's not 100% sure and all that, I wouldn't take the chance for someone I don't even know.