Is it right to sacrifice someone else "for the greater good"?
By Bladestorm
@Bladestorm (44)
United States
March 4, 2009 12:25am CST
That is a theoretical question, and here is a short fictional story to go with it.
Let's say that a suicidal maniac planted a bomb in a school of 200 people, while everyone was in class. You do not attend this school, and do not know anyone in it. You and your best friend touring this school, and just happen to see him planting the bomb. Before you can do anything he takes your friend hostage at gunpoint.
He tells you that you now have a choice: if give him the okay to blow up the school, he will let you both run out first, then blow it up; most likely killing many of the people inside. If you don't, he will kill your best friend and then himself, but spare the school.
If this really happened to you, what would you choose? Would you kill your best friend to save a bunch of people you don't know? Or would you save your best friend, and make hundreds of innocent people suffer and possibly die? I certainly hope this never happens, but if it did and you were on the spot... What would you do?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@michmich2 (432)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Wow - tough question! I really want to say that I would sacrifice my friend, but I know that if I were really in that situation, it would be so difficult! I don't know how I could live with myself if I let 200 children die though because of my selfishness or my loyalty to my friend. I hope I would make the sacrifice to save more people, but I just don't know. It gets even more complicated when I think about if it was one of my children instead of my best friend. It's bad enough to have to sacrifice your friend, but I really could not imagine at all having to choose to have my child die, even if it was to save so many people. In that case, I really don't think I could do it. I really hope I am never in a situation like that!
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@Bladestorm (44)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Nice answer, I agree completely. A few other interesting things to consider as well:
If this was a college, or if the people inside were adults instead of children, would it make a difference in your choice? What if it WAS one your own children being held hostage? What if your children were in class in that chool at the time? And finally, what if the person being held hostage was someone you had never seen before.
Would any of these things make a difference in your choice? Of course we may never know, I for one could not choose, and from the look of it no one else can either. I hope no one ever has to make a choice like that, but I know that some people have to do it daily...
@Quest8205 (13)
• United States
4 Mar 09
That's certainly a thinker. I like to think, I would sacrifice my friend for the greater good. Although, honestly, I doubt that.
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@Bladestorm (44)
• United States
4 Mar 09
I know, I could not personally choose right now; i think it would be one of those things where your brain takes a back seat to instinct, you just wouldn't have enough time to think about it. Of course, even if i had years to think about it I could not, or perhaps, WOULD not, choose.
@mjmlagat (3170)
• Philippines
4 Mar 09
That's a tough situation there, you know. Maybe I would try to convince my friend first not to pursue such evil act but if he really has made up his mind on committing the crime, well I have to see the welfare of the majority first and give up such friendship with him--it's not worth it.
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