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The One or the Many?
- Thread starter Halcyon
- Start date
It would help if we had a context for these questions, Halcyon, a scenario to make them more relative. One cannot answer without making a moral slight: after all, if I say it's okay to sacrifice One for the Many, as humanity symbolically and once literally did with human sacrifice (think Jesus dying for all of us) then I condone a murder, but if I say it is okay to sacrifice the Many for One I am a monster, a tyrant, a lunatic...or maybe the god of the Old Testament. See what I mean? There is no "correct" answer or valid general opinion, I feel.
I don't feel that I can sacrifice the one for the many. I don't feel that I can sacrifice the many for the one. It is not my choice or my right to sacrifice anybody for anything.
If, however, the one (or the many) decided to sacrifice herself, that's a different matter.
Just my $.02
If, however, the one (or the many) decided to sacrifice herself, that's a different matter.
Just my $.02
Radio Frequency X
World Leader Pretend
Neosnoia said:I don't feel that I can sacrifice the one for the many. I don't feel that I can sacrifice the many for the one. It is not my choice or my right to sacrifice anybody for anything.
If, however, the one (or the many) decided to sacrifice herself, that's a different matter.
Just my $.02
Well said. Sadly, I think most people believe they have a right to force anyone to sacrifice themselves so long as they have "numbers" on their side.
Guitar's Cry
Disciple of Pan
Ah, utilitarianism!
I would say the same as many of the other posters: it's an individual action that should be decided on a case by case basis. There is certainly honor and virtue in sacrificing oneself for another (or many), but I find ethics to be way too convoluted to simply say that it is "ok" to do so.
I would say the same as many of the other posters: it's an individual action that should be decided on a case by case basis. There is certainly honor and virtue in sacrificing oneself for another (or many), but I find ethics to be way too convoluted to simply say that it is "ok" to do so.
eudaimonia
Fellowship of Reason
Halcyon said:
No.
No.
In certain lifeboat examples it may be inevitable, but it should never be done if it can be avoided.
eudaimonia,
Mark