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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
What you describe here isn't necessarily in the about justice per se; I would suggest it is more in line with libertarianism. And how would you describe a "special relationship"? Isn't a defenseless elderly human being special enough? Although you didn't cause the situation, doing nothing isn't quite helping the situation either. Especially if you are in what we would call a just society.
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No, being an elderly or defenseless person in and of itself isn't sufficent grounds to constitute a "special relationship". By special relationship, I'm thinking of the ones currently recognized under the law in the US. They include parent toward minor child, spouses towards each other, employer toward employee, property owner toward guest, captian/crew of ship towards passengers. Those are some examples. Being a defenseless person isn't one of them outside of those types of relationships. Even in the case of a special relationship though, a person shouldn't be
legally required to risk their life, morally maybe, but not legally. Those in special relationships should be expected to render assistance, but not to the point where they risk injury/death.
I don't disagree that it's a Libertarian perspective on this issue, but I also believe that a just law doesn't demand that I risk death, to protect a stranger, when I haven't signed up for it.
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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Courts and cops have no significance if they aren't around. This is where civic duty comes in. What duty? you may ask. The duty to uphold the values of a just society. Do you truly want to live in a society where an old man can be beaten to death, where no one will do anything unless they are paid law enforcers? I agree that people should not be forced to do something against their will, but surely there is something to be concerned about if they choose to do nothing in this case.
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The cops do have an influence, so do the courts, they are the ones duly authorized to catch and try perps of crime. Might I remind you that the perpertrator deonte edward bradley has been caught and will
stand trial for this crime. The carjacking count alone carries penalties up to life in prison in Michigan. Something is being done about the perp, it's called trial and it will likely be followed by conviction and prison.
As to the society in and of itself, I don't see anything wrong with the bystanders not physically intervening, they shouldn't be expected to risk their lives for someone who is a stranger, whether that stranger is defenseless or not. I don't know their familial status, but I think it's wrong to expect them to put saving a stranger above coming home alive to their families. I also think it's wrong to hold people to different standards in such a situation based on their gender, physical size, or familial status among other things.