Is this a reason to go to war?

Question

Suppose there are two starving tribes on a field. The potatoes just arrive to feed only one of the tribes, who thus acquire forces to go to the other side of the mountain, where there are more potatoes; but if the two tribes divide in peace the potatoes of the field, the two tribes are not fed enough and will die of starvation. The peace, in this in case is the destruction; the war, is the hope.

Answer 1

Good Lord... where is the cheese???

Answer 2

Good question but a bit flawed if they only have enough potatoes to keep one tribe from starving how will they gather and then feed the forces gathered on the march to the other side of the mountain. Why can't they divide the potatoes and send some tribesmefrom each tribe to the other side of the mountain to bring back more potatoes. War is not always the answer.

Answer 3

Piece of cake..

But do not forget about the third tribe. The biggest nation of tribes will impose sanctions on the tribe that has potatoe oil, and then when they are dead from starvation, they will go in take all of the potatoes and give 30% of the potatoes to the other tribe and keep them as lap dogs...

Answer 4

Here both peace and war as a solution show a prime socialized delima. We are quick to define ourselves as this tribe or that nation, this race or culture and that religion, instead of seeing ourselves as valued members of a gerater humanity.

All lives you say in your senerio cannot be saved anyway so the compassionate mind of wisdom would look to preserve and advancet he most promising period!

As for those less fortunate the most promising have an obligation to offer what comforts they can and remember those who sacrificed that they might live. Ironically in such a case compassion may talk more into dying than before but with a wanted purpose and the greater likelyhood of never being put to such a test again!

Answer 5

OK, what if they make peace, put together a party made up of members of both sides which can then go to the other side of the mountain and harvest those potatoes to bring back for everyone else?

Answer 6

Your allegory stinks. I propose this (which is just as useless): If one tribe is growing potatoes, and the other is busy worshipping a god instead of growing their own potatoes, that they've known how to do for a thousand years, and the god worshipping tribe attacks the potato growers, and murders them all, does that prove that religion is the answer?

Answer 7

There are many reasons for peace and war. Appeasement never works. Negotiation works only when there is a benefit for both parties. Sometimes you fight to the death. Everthing hinges on disposition of the tribes and if there can be a negotiated outcome.
Some ideas are not negotiable.

Answer 8

If and when a humans own life is on the line,the instinct to live becomes as strong as possible.One will do absolutely anything to survive if it comes down to it.In times of war land and food have been the sole purpose for the creation of the war itself...Even today,as we speak the U.S.military is attempting to gather land for it's own use.Especially land that contains crude oil below the surface...tom science

Answer 9

similar to the dichotomy of capitalism- if we shared out all the wealth in the world everyone would be poor- if a few people have money then more people have the potential to be rich- but most people will be poor- seems to me a matter of luck whether you are on the winning side or can make some money- life is basically unfair!!!

Answer 10

okay u will kill the other tribe and eat the potatoes but what will u do the next time u will get hungry...... eat ur self??

Answer 11

You have more time on your hands than even I do.
Great thought, war will save one or someone from outside the country will have to bring more food in.