If you know something that could potentially help a complete stranger, do you have a moral obligation to tell them? Do you tell them even if you believe they won't take your advice?
2006-06-08 09:58:06 · 19 answers · asked by Andrea 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I should also add that it is not a life-or-death situation, and helping this person would not put you in any danger whatsoever.
2006-06-08 10:32:55 · update #1
We are all a part of one another. Helping a stranger is helping ourselves.
And its good Karma!
2006-06-08 10:43:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 3⤋
It all depends on 2 things:
1. The type of person you are. Some people are more comfortable with helping people out that they don't know, or they just feel bad if they don't help.
2. The situation. If the situation could put you in serious danger, then you may not want to. Then again, there's people that risk their lives willingly for others. It could also be an uncomfortable situation, too, and you have to just weigh the benefits and consequences.
There's no clear right or wrong with stuff like that, in my opinion. But if you can do something simple to help a stranger, then I think you should just find it inside yourself to help out.
2006-06-08 10:10:30 · answer #2 · answered by IAmtheWalrus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do we have an obligation, no. The only obligations we have are imposed on us by ourselves.
Some people feel the need to advise and correct others without being asked. Most of the time it is not appreciated. Sometimes even children need to experience things for themselves not matter how hard it is for a parent to stand by and just watch.
You may feel that there is a moral obligation to tell them, but to do so would mean that you are imposing your morals on them.
2006-06-08 10:11:43 · answer #3 · answered by Carlton73 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if we obligate ourselves to do so. I don't follow other people, and in not doing so I do not follow morality rules. I live under ethical rules, so whenever I do something it is because I feel that it should be so, not because society says it should be so. I have different emotional responses in different situations; for example, if I see someone kicking a dog for no apparent reason, then I think it to be ethically wrong. But if that same person is kicking a dog who was attacking someone, I feel this to be ethically acceptable to me. Morals state that there are no parameters; wrong is wrong, and the world is black and white...that is a world that to me is ethically wrong.
2006-06-08 14:43:41 · answer #4 · answered by mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it a good thing to do? Yes.
Are we obliged to do it? No.
It really does depend on the circumstances. If it is a life-or-death matter, then i - personally - would do what i could to help.
But i am a very private person, and i always try to respect the privacy of others, so unless it is a VERY important matter i would likely just let them get on with whatever it was they were doing.
If that makes me a bad person.....well, i guess i'm a bad person.
2006-06-08 10:03:20 · answer #5 · answered by missinglincoln 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you see an old lady walking around in a park looking lost, how can you morally NOT stop and ask her if she is OK? You should offer your help as long as it does not put your own safety at risk. For example, if a couple is fighting and it looks violent, just walk by so he knows that someone is nearby then call 911.
2006-06-08 10:10:07 · answer #6 · answered by Xuxu8765548034567680 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like to do unto others as I would want them to do unto me. In the 70s it was "whatever goes around comes around." Now it is "My name is Earl" law. AKA-- golden rule.
So here is my advice for you. If you are very intelligent check out NUCCA (Nat. Upper Cerv. Chiro. Assoc.). See post under yours with guy with neck question. It is taught at the Chiro college in CA.
The guy (a Cornell graduate) who used it on me graduated first in his class at chiro college that did not teach it so he spent 6 extra months learning it. The guy who graduated 2nd in his class became the dean of that college.
All chiros do the same treatment-- crack neck right and left, crack back, crack hips right and left. I even had Gonstead method used on me. With NUCCA (gentle no force pressure) they adjust every person differently after taking very, very precise x-rays. Before that my neck was in bad shape since I broke a vertebrae into 2 pieces practicing martial arts at 17. Now I have my own website about natural health and weight loss. For great 6 paragraph story on healing read first story on this page
http://phifoundation.org/heal.html
2006-06-08 11:48:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is really according to the situation. Would it put you in harms way if you did it? If so, the answer is no. Also, you should always speak your mind, even if they do not take your advice. That is called "being a parent"...
2006-06-08 10:02:39 · answer #8 · answered by educated guess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose it's a matter of opinion. My opinion is that, yes, we should help strangers if we can. I don't always, because I think it takes a certain amount of courage. However, I do think it's the right thing to do.
2006-06-08 13:54:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on that stranger I'm facing.
If I see him/her won't comment on my help or would appreciate it, I would probably say it and be on my way.
But if I noticed that he might be aggressive or would offend me, then I shall put my tongue in my mouth and carry on with what I was doing without even concerning to help that stranger.
2006-06-08 12:49:52 · answer #10 · answered by Pinky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if u mean giving advises then no, because usually people dont take advises from just anyone and usually they ask someone they know and trust if they really want it..but if u mean physical help then yes we do, because you are also a stranger to someone , and if u knew this someone could help u , u would so want for them to help u ..so its same for others
2006-06-08 10:34:26 · answer #11 · answered by KT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋