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Originally Posted by Terrell
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.
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Okay, so by "special," you meant those determined by U.S. law as opposed to those that underly our humanity.
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Originally Posted by Terrell
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.
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This is where things get muddied. Aren't laws created on moral grounds?
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Originally Posted by Terrell
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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Just laws also ensure that those subject to them cannot opt out of the social order. If a law exists that requires one to intervene if they witnesses a crime such as this beating, then they are subject to the penalties for not doing so. If no such law exists, they are merely subject to moral judgement of choosing their own safety over the well being of an old man. And it isn't about protecting a stranger, it's about protecting a fellow citizen who is subject to the same rules and system of values as everyone else. Ignoring their right to this is to undermine your own. And this so-called "signing up" can be argued to have already happened. We are bound—contractually, in a way—by merely being citizens subject to a particular system of justice. If we break this contract, we are breaking our agreement to respect the harmony of society.
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Originally Posted by Terrell
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. |
Do the cops always get their man?
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Originally Posted by Terrell
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.
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I don't see this as being completely right, either. If I were to witness someone beat an old man to death and I decided to do absolutely nothing, I'm pretty sure it would haunt me for a long time.