How many of your countrymen would you see killed to save 1000 foreigners?

Question

You don't know the individuals in either group personally. And both groups contain only 'innocents' - ie this is not a war question.

I'm not talking about you choosing to kill anyone here. I mean if you had to choose between (say) 200 of your countrymen dying or 1000 foreigners, which would you choose. If the numbers not 200, what is it?

Nani: Thanks - but I think based on your answer your mean 1000 not 0?

To clarify because I think my intention has been misunderstood here: I'm not talking about 'sacrificing' your countrymen to save foreigners as such. I'm saying, imagine you're sitting there with two buttons and, for whatever reason, you HAVE to press one. 1000 foreigners or x number of your countrymen, how big is x before you'll hit the other button instead?

To all those who have said none: What if it's a billion foreigners, you wouldn't see even one of your countrymen die instead?

Tina: Yes we do, and I'd say nationalism and the rise of it is the single biggest threat this world faces. IMO viewing the life of a countrymen you don't know as more valuable than a foreigner you don't know is disgusting and immoral, and it takes a crazy amount of propoganda for someone to arrive at that point. I'm asking this with a view to a follow-up question, that's where I'm going with this.

Answer 1

none

Answer 2

These men are soldiers , they take orders without question , innocent or not , they are trained to Kill . For the greater good of man kind , or to save a thousand innocents , or to secure a strategic position . They are soldiers , and they will die for whatever cause their superiors designate as worthy .
I do not believe in the greater good of mankind , as defined by Americans.Or any other power that perceives it's self this way .That sets it self up as the infinite protector , of the innocent .
If I were leading a command in the field , and we had to go behind enemy lines to save foreigners . I would accept the losses providing it was a win situation . If I were to loose two hundred men , and the chances were the foreigners could not be saved . I would let them die .It,s all out come to me

Answer 3

If it's not a war question, then I don't see any difference between my 'countrymen' and so called 'foreigners'. They are all human beings of equal stature.

If it's a war question, I don't think countries go to war to save foreign lives, they go to war for their own interests. As such, the number of casualties on their sides is weighed up with these interests not those of other countries.

Answer 4

the patriotic way to answer this question is 'none'. in actual practice you have a whole different ballgame. two buttons, the #1000 on the top of one, and the# X on the other. you are the one that has to decide for the good of ALL.....all nationality considerations aside, the only thing to do is push the button with the smaller number....that's not to say i could actually do that. it would be the logical thing, but i'm not always logical, no matter how hard i try.

Answer 5

To answer your actual question (qualified by your additions), if I was forced into making this decision I would press the button involving the least lost of life. If I had to choose the number affected by my decision I would choose the least possible number, one. And, if possible, that one would be me but I don't think you are allowing that option.

I'll be interested to see the follow-up question!

PS: Sorry, just reread one of your clarifications. The maximum number of fellow countrypersons I would allow before pressing the other button would be 999 because my objective would be to save as many as possible irrespective of their origins. I am not equating 999 persons from my country with 1000 foreigners but if the figure gets higher than 999 I'm saving no-one.

Answer 6

Woah, people really didn't get the point of this very interesting question did they?
I think the way everyone jumped on the defencive patriotic bandwagon is a perfect illustration of your point about Nationalism.
I also think it's a bit off some people making the comments they have about your question when they clearly don't even understand it.
My answer to your question is this : I can't give you a figure, but it is my belief that we must serve the greater good, regardless of whether or not such people are my countrymen.

Answer 7

Well, All of them.
Quoted tony Blair to George, on the phone while on holiday in Barbados.

never mind innocents, we all have to fight for rights, not just to PARTY!!! but for our own self preservation,
£4 Billion Annually to foreign Aid (to buy Arms etc)
Yet British Originals and homeless have to do without.
If your foreign and wish to live in Britain you can:
receive a £1000 govt starter grant (NOT A LOAN)
£700 towards a car (help travelling to work Availability)
£50 telephone cost (Point of contact for work MOBILES)
the list is endless.
If British citizens try to claim we get declined.
And Finally, as a former Police Officer.
The National Crime rate Has risen overall. Over 80% of recorded Rapes on Girls & Women Have been alledgedly commited by EAST Foreign Nationals (Cant say it... Political correctness & all that)
NEXT QUESTION??????

Answer 8

Well, if it came to saving lives (and i gather in this hypothetical we're talking about a random selection of people), i don't consider nationality a criteria, who are we to judge whether people born in our country are more worthy of life than someone born elsewhere, nationalism aside, all life is equal. That said, if it were me, i would be compelled to save as many lives as possible, so up 999, even that one life is worth it!

Answer 9

Too general a question..Would I kill to save a loved one yes, foreign or domestic..need a better reason than looking for a racist answer..sorry

Answer 10

There are times when the need of one supersedes the need of many. You need to give it some thought.

Familiar with the term "Good Samaritan?"

Do you "really" think fire fighters charge into the fire risking their own life an a daily basis thinking he is risking his life for a foreigner? or for a 1000 nationals?

Thank God there are still Heroes in this world.

It is depends on your tolerance leavel, and your values. I seriously think you need a lot of work in this area.

Answer 11

First of all, this is a great question. I do not think I would elect to see ANY 'innocent' civilians fall for forigners, because they are in NO way prepared for death, or the possibility of having to fight for life. This is the realm of the soldier. For me, the number is zero.