Special Obligations - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

politicophile · 07-25-2005, 11:24 AM

Do you have special moral obligations to your children? To your family or friends? To your government?

If two children, one of whom was your son or daughter, the other a complete stranger, were drowning and you could select only one to save, would you be justified in saving your son or daughter? What if doing so meant that two other children would die? How powerful is one's special obligation to one's children? Speaking as a non-parent, I couldn't truly answer this question, but what do the rest of you think? There certainly does seem to be some special obligation...

07-25-2005, 11:36 AM

Why is it a 'special' obligation? Isn't it a natural obligation? Wouldn't you feel horribly worse for years after if you chose to save the stranger for x, y or z moral reasons?

I personaly find arguing morals a very difficult thing to do - I think you should try and do what you know will be easier to live with for yourself, and as such, it should be instinctive.

Whether it's killing one person for the sake of 50, or saving your own child before someone else's - each and every person must do what 'feels' right to them at the moment the dilemma presents itself.

If one was to deliberate over what was right or wrong, often the moment would slip by and we would lose all the children/patients/lifeboat in whatever moral scenario we find ourselves in.

So in answer to the question, I would be justified in doing whatever I did at the time in question - can anyone rightfully condem someone who makes the 'wrong' choice in this situation?

Robert_XX · 07-25-2005, 02:13 PM

If it was my child or one other, the straightforward choice would be that I would save my child. Even if the moral case is equal, your self interest could legitimately be the deciding factor.

In reality I would save my own child and to hell with the moral dilemma, even if it were two or three other children. But - I hear you say - what if it were more? What if it were a choice between your child and 100 or 1000 others and you had plenty of time in which to make your decision?

But truthfully, in reality I would save nobody, not being able to swim, which leads to another moral question. Are you under a moral obligation to learn how to swim if you have children? or even if you don't?

Xazy · 07-25-2005, 06:49 PM

A Jewish belief is to teach your kids to swim, a profession, married.

As far as obligation / moral, sorry but you will naturally protect your own first.

Turbotom · 07-25-2005, 07:54 PM

I'd never blame a parent for saving their child.
I would find it hard to blame a parent for saving their child even if it meant the death of ten others.

As for what's morally right?
...the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Uhg, sorry, that's so hilariously awful.

genuinegirly · 07-25-2005, 09:23 PM

I have no kids...
BUT

I would rescue one of my nephews and/or niece in place of ANY other child.

If it meant saving one of them vs. 10 others, I have no idea what I would do. Something to think about there...

kramus · 08-01-2005, 04:36 PM

I save my kid. Anything else is gravy. I would feel the torment of the lost children, and I would feel right in my choice. Numbers don't come into it.

JumpinJesus · 08-06-2005, 10:50 PM

No doubt about it, I'd save my own child. In fact, I'll go one better, I'd purposely kill another if it meant saving my child. There's no morality about it, in my opinion. It's my child, she has my blood flowing in her, she comes before everyone else in this world. I'm very well aware that every other parent who posts on here feels the exact same way, too.

Now, as far as moral obligation to government...what moral obligation to government? As I understand it, our government has a moral obligation to us, not the other way around.

07-25-2005, 11:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
politicophile Addict	Special Obligations Do you have special moral obligations to your children? To your family or friends? To your government? If two children, one of whom was your son or daughter, the other a complete stranger, were drowning and you could select only one to save, would you be justified in saving your son or daughter? What if doing so meant that two other children would die? How powerful is one's special obligation to one's children? Speaking as a non-parent, I couldn't truly answer this question, but what do the rest of you think? There certainly does seem to be some special obligation...

07-25-2005, 09:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	I have no kids... BUT I would rescue one of my nephews and/or niece in place of ANY other child. If it meant saving one of them vs. 10 others, I have no idea what I would do. Something to think about there... __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

08-01-2005, 04:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
kramus loving the curves Location: my Lady's manor	I save my kid. Anything else is gravy. I would feel the torment of the lost children, and I would feel right in my choice. Numbers don't come into it. __________________ And now to disengage the clutch of the forebrain ... I'm going with this - if you like artwork visit http://markfineart.ca

08-06-2005, 10:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	No doubt about it, I'd save my own child. In fact, I'll go one better, I'd purposely kill another if it meant saving my child. There's no morality about it, in my opinion. It's my child, she has my blood flowing in her, she comes before everyone else in this world. I'm very well aware that every other parent who posts on here feels the exact same way, too. Now, as far as moral obligation to government...what moral obligation to government? As I understand it, our government has a moral obligation to us, not the other way around. __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

07-25-2005, 11:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
zen_tom Guest	Why is it a 'special' obligation? Isn't it a natural obligation? Wouldn't you feel horribly worse for years after if you chose to save the stranger for x, y or z moral reasons? I personaly find arguing morals a very difficult thing to do - I think you should try and do what you know will be easier to live with for yourself, and as such, it should be instinctive. Whether it's killing one person for the sake of 50, or saving your own child before someone else's - each and every person must do what 'feels' right to them at the moment the dilemma presents itself. If one was to deliberate over what was right or wrong, often the moment would slip by and we would lose all the children/patients/lifeboat in whatever moral scenario we find ourselves in. So in answer to the question, I would be justified in doing whatever I did at the time in question - can anyone rightfully condem someone who makes the 'wrong' choice in this situation?

07-25-2005, 02:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Robert_XX Upright Location: London, UK	If it was my child or one other, the straightforward choice would be that I would save my child. Even if the moral case is equal, your self interest could legitimately be the deciding factor. In reality I would save my own child and to hell with the moral dilemma, even if it were two or three other children. But - I hear you say - what if it were more? What if it were a choice between your child and 100 or 1000 others and you had plenty of time in which to make your decision? But truthfully, in reality I would save nobody, not being able to swim, which leads to another moral question. Are you under a moral obligation to learn how to swim if you have children? or even if you don't?

07-25-2005, 06:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Xazy People in masks cannot be trusted Location: NYC	A Jewish belief is to teach your kids to swim, a profession, married. As far as obligation / moral, sorry but you will naturally protect your own first.

07-25-2005, 07:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Turbotom Tilted	I'd never blame a parent for saving their child. I would find it hard to blame a parent for saving their child even if it meant the death of ten others. As for what's morally right? ...the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Uhg, sorry, that's so hilariously awful.