Tuesday, December 31, 2013

ethical dilemmas

In the trite and reductive way in which ethical philosophers spin their yarns, I now offer the following:

Imagine that a family member who you love is drowning.

They have fastened their arms around your neck.   They are fearful, but also grateful that your neck is available, as they find amazing strength to squeeze it.

You can, for a time, support them.  However, let us suppose, that the desperate energy in their grasp is slowly pulling you down with them.

If you extricate yourself, have you done something wrong?

Would it be better that you both drown?

And, imagine that, at the same time your loved one is pulling you under, small sea creatures are nipping away at your legs, or that birds are poking your skull, attempting to eat your brain.

Now, that's getting close to my current situation.

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