Moral Question - Page 2

nWoCHRISnWo · 03-01-2002, 09:32 PM

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 · 03-01-2002, 09:43 PM

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 · 03-01-2002, 09:56 PM

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 · 03-01-2002, 10:02 PM

Terrorist up above!!! :eek:

Jin · 03-01-2002, 10:39 PM

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 · 03-01-2002, 10:44 PM

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

nWoCHRISnWo · 03-01-2002, 10:45 PM

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

GameMaster · 03-01-2002, 10:47 PM

Because I'm caring and compassionate. Yourself?

ed328 · 03-01-2002, 10:50 PM

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 · 03-01-2002, 10:55 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-01-2002, 11:52 PM

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 · 03-02-2002, 12:03 AM

Quote:

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?

nWoCHRISnWo · 03-02-2002, 12:04 AM

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 · 03-02-2002, 12:06 AM

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

GameMaster · 03-02-2002, 12:13 AM

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.