Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Do the needs of the many outweigh those of the few?

Cynthetiq · 05-08-2003, 07:25 AM

While reading some of the many threads here I see a very basic commonality to some of the solutions. It's a balance to a larger argument, do the needs of the many outweigh those of the few? Or do the needs of the one outweigh the many?

Imagine during any armed conflict that some family is hiding. Baby cries because it is being restrained and in the act of trying to quiet the child, the child is smothered. Had the child cried out surely the family would have been discovered and all of them killed. But the act of smothering the child saved the rest of the family.

On ER the other week a man and his pregnant wife were in the hospital. The wife was going to die due to some terminal illness, but if they abort the baby she'll live a little longer. If they save the baby the mother will surely die, but then they can have another generation. I believe that when the man was presented a choice he said,"Save my wife." The rest of the staff wanted to save the child because it was the needs of that one that offset the needs of the others.

IMHO I find that it depends on each and every situation. There isn't a cut and dry method for determining which is more important the many or the one.

05-08-2003, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Do the needs of the many outweigh those of the few? While reading some of the many threads here I see a very basic commonality to some of the solutions. It's a balance to a larger argument, do the needs of the many outweigh those of the few? Or do the needs of the one outweigh the many? Imagine during any armed conflict that some family is hiding. Baby cries because it is being restrained and in the act of trying to quiet the child, the child is smothered. Had the child cried out surely the family would have been discovered and all of them killed. But the act of smothering the child saved the rest of the family. On ER the other week a man and his pregnant wife were in the hospital. The wife was going to die due to some terminal illness, but if they abort the baby she'll live a little longer. If they save the baby the mother will surely die, but then they can have another generation. I believe that when the man was presented a choice he said,"Save my wife." The rest of the staff wanted to save the child because it was the needs of that one that offset the needs of the others. IMHO I find that it depends on each and every situation. There isn't a cut and dry method for determining which is more important the many or the one. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!