So, interestingly enough, this survey was inspired by a Star Trek episode I was watching the other night, and it got me thinking.
Anyway.
Suppose you've a friend or family member or other close relation-type who is dying. You have the knowledge that will save them, but you've obtained it in a completely unethical fashion (i.e. torturing other people, things like that). Is it wrong (ethically, morally, whatever) to use this knowledge and save your friend/family/etc?
I honestly don't know how I'd react in such a situation. I was completely torn when watching the episode, and would not have thought either decision to be wrong, really.
Anyway.
Suppose you've a friend or family member or other close relation-type who is dying. You have the knowledge that will save them, but you've obtained it in a completely unethical fashion (i.e. torturing other people, things like that). Is it wrong (ethically, morally, whatever) to use this knowledge and save your friend/family/etc?
I honestly don't know how I'd react in such a situation. I was completely torn when watching the episode, and would not have thought either decision to be wrong, really.
Regardless of using the knowledge gained, you have still acted unethically. Just more so if you then let someone die who you could have saved.
*MySmiley*
Robert Graves "There is no money in poetry, but then there is no poetry in money, either."
Henning Mankell "We must defend the open society, because if we start locking our doors, if we let fear decide, the person who committed the act of terror will win"
Robert Graves "There is no money in poetry, but then there is no poetry in money, either."
Henning Mankell "We must defend the open society, because if we start locking our doors, if we let fear decide, the person who committed the act of terror will win"
An Ethical Survey
- 16/04/2010 12:48:44 AM
736 Views
I'd torture more people for fun after saving the friend or family member.
- 16/04/2010 01:25:43 AM
555 Views
*NM*
So, like... using medical research acquired by Nazi scientists during the Holocaust? *NM*
- 16/04/2010 04:34:32 AM
379 Views
I can't think of many ethical considerations of any sort that would trump dying family member. *NM*
- 16/04/2010 05:12:43 AM
209 Views
This is a total no-brainer, as per above responses. Star Trek clearly needs better moral dilemmas.
- 16/04/2010 09:44:43 AM
505 Views
Sunk costs
- 16/04/2010 12:47:37 PM
627 Views
This question kind of raised it's head in a recent Bad Science column
- 16/04/2010 01:25:12 PM
652 Views
I think it would be unethical to let someone else die to protect your moral values *NM*
- 16/04/2010 02:16:54 PM
217 Views
Possibly not, but only if it would be immoral for your victims to refuse to cure your loved one.
- 16/04/2010 04:33:38 PM
536 Views