There’s a very wealthy man with two sons. The man is wise and just. He also has a lot of ideals and expectations for the boys. If the boys live up to they’re dads hopes they will inherit a large fortune.
One son does not truly understand these ideals nor does he really want to live his life that way. But because he desires the inheritance, he lives his life exactly how his dad wants.
The second son understands the reasons why his dad expects such things. And he lives his life pretty close to those ideals. He lives this way because he believes it to be right, with complete disregard for the inheritance.
If you have to pick one, which ones the better son?
2006-11-10 04:04:36 · 25 answers · asked by swollen 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
When there’s a large reward we tend to justify our actions. What if the first son is unconscious of the fact his motives are not pure.
2006-11-10 04:46:07 · update #1
This is a funny question but, only time will tell. We all are subject to change. Therefore the one son pretending maybe has issues about the freedom of choice in living his life and in essence really loves his father but is not clear because the threat of the loss of inhertitance is a symbol to him of his fathers love. And this is a typical sibling rivalry as well. No one can read minds or get inside to truly know how someone feels when it is a close relationship like father and son and that is why time will tell. Who knows who will die in the meantime as well. God willing no one, but the other son may be walking naturally in his fathers footsteps and it is easier for him to follow his father than his brother, so is it that he loves his father more or he is more like his father? Chances are they love just the same but in different ways. My suggestion is to create a warmer atmosphere and get rid of the resentment and first start by realizing no one has to be driven to any place they dont want to go for love or money. After all that is said and done the money is still here and the two sons and the father will pass on some day. And those two brothers will be lucky to have a brother in this world to care for eachother. Some people are broke and orphans. Either way if one brother gets rich and does not share that money with his own brother that is shameful.
2006-11-10 04:49:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both Sons are Equal.
Reason: Both sons are meeting the expectations of the Father.
And in the end will inherit the Monies as part of the *contract* with the Father.
The Fact that the second son is more comfortable following the Rules of the Father, may be a result of the Second sons personality, vision and beliefs.
The Fact that the First son is fulfilling his Fathers expectations with reservations is secondary.
If Both Sons meet the expectations of the Father, Then Both Sons have a right to the inheritance.
The Sons and the Father entered into a Verbal contract. If either Son violates that verbal contact, the violator is not entitled to the Monies.
One other detail....There is no specification that either son has to meet the Fathers expectations after the Father dies.
The Verbal contract only applies while the Father is alive.
Great question and Thank you.
2006-11-10 04:34:01 · answer #2 · answered by Mav 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Given the information that you gave the second son is of course the better son. However, the father not having the power to read minds will most likely pick the first son. Actions are observable not thoughts. The first sons actions comply more closely to the fathers desires making him, in the fathers eyes, the better son.
The father of course is the least ethical of the three for setting up such a conflict. People with major control issues are seldom ethical
2006-11-10 04:18:04 · answer #3 · answered by oldhippypaul 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first son has made the higher moral choice. It is not a judgment against the second son, as he was never faced with a moral question. The first son has chosen to make a sacrifice against his ideals, even if his choice was self motivated due to the inheritance. Had he chosen to fore go the inheritance and live by his ideals, he would still would have made the higher moral choice compared to his brother. As to who is the better son, neither is better over the other as their actions are identical. The first brother is the only one with a moral dilemma. Good Luck!
2006-11-10 04:27:27 · answer #4 · answered by Brian L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no better son. He should love them equally and enough to not put such a burden on them in the first place. This is a loaded, unfair question, but I'm sure you'll get some dope to answer "the one who lived his life by his own rules" because this is obviously the answer you're looking for.
2006-11-10 04:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by jirstan2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The second son, as he does so because he wants to, not from greed for the inheritance. This is a pretty obvious question. It is a take-off from the biblical story of the two sons - one of whom says he will do as his father asks, then doesn't and the second who refuses to do as his father asks at first, then changes his mind and does what was asked because he loves his father.
2006-11-10 04:09:31 · answer #6 · answered by harpertara 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'm greater philosophical then the conventional undergo. and much less philosophical then people who're incredibly philosophical. i don't think of girls human beings have been printed long sufficient for there to be an equivalent diploma. i'm being severe. women human beings have been printed below male names for hundreds of years. Who is conscious. On a point of cloth evidence of publishings it would look adult males. yet as I reported women human beings weren't printed or have been below male alias for plenty longer in history that all of it must be measured. an common try on my own would not tell. Being scholarly on my own would not recommend deep. It facilitates tho.
2016-11-23 14:18:49 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would pick the second son. If the first one didn't want to live out that life then they should follow their own path. The second son followed that path because they chose to.
2006-11-10 07:22:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The second son, because even though it is what his DAD wants, he wants it too.
But the first son is conforming. He is letting the money talk rather thatn his heart. To me that fortells of finacial selfishness.
Thesecond son would do the right thing on his own free will. Not the first.
2006-11-10 04:27:18 · answer #9 · answered by danksprite420 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The one that did not understand...For he is a free thinker and chose to be like the father, to please his father perhaps for selfish gain but unlike the second son this son still has the abililty and the gift of free choice and not programmed therefore he has to work harder and sacrifice more to meet his fathers expectations.
2006-11-10 04:08:40 · answer #10 · answered by ray b 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋