Quote:
Originally Posted by inBOIL
Do you have an ethical obligation to care for this child?
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No. Whoever left the baby there has the ethical obligation.
You do, however, have self serving reasons to keep the child alive.
Taking all of your parameters into account. you would first have to decide if there are enough resources on the island for the child to grow to usefullness. So say, 10-15 years worth of sustainable resources.
Then there is your own health. Were you a diabetic before waking up on this island, or similar medical condition that requires daily medication that you don't have anymore? Will you survive 10-15 years?
Are your chances of survival dimished by keeping the child alive?
I think companionship would be the biggest reason to keep the child. That added to the sense of purpose derived from raising the child would help keep you from the loony bin.
Imagine if you were ever rescued. Having a child our young adult who was raised completely outside of civilization, no cars, money, shopping malls, microwaves, McDonalds, cell phones, TV's, computers, video games, real clothes, shoes would totally send the scientific community into a tizzy and you would be famous.