how do you stop them, how do you convince them to stop. And worse, if you know they will go on to hurt abuse kill others, are you responsible for not stopping them?
And last so we have no confusion here, this person, is someone you love.
Say it is an authority, that you have a split second to decide, (but you have this moment all you want to prepare)
I mean this can be applied to a huge group of ethic problems from one religon who hates another, to people who destroy the environment, people who are selfish and uncaring and willing to act on it.....etc
This is totally hypothetical please remember that, it is a philosophical question I would like to see better worded.
But better, I would love to hear your answers.
2006-11-14 16:47:34 · 8 answers · asked by Sqwrll F 2 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Whenever a person has only a split second to decide what to do, they will go with their immediate reaction in the moment. The only way to be sure of being good in such a situation is to be in touch with one's intuition and calmness of mind, which will be most likely to happen if one has cultivated these qualities in daily life.
If someone is in the act of hurting another, most of us would intervene physically to try to separate them if we felt physically safe enough. If we feel too scared/threatened ourself, then the only good choice may be to seek aid from a safe-enough place (e.g., shout for others to combine in helping). Useless aid is useless. But not all of us would get that discernment right (intervene or avoid) in the split second moment.
If we love the hurter, it makes it easier to want to intervene with the minimum possible hurt to that person consistent with the desired result. Of course that is the ideal in all cases.
I can understand how "authority" might put fear in one's mind. Say it's your boss who's dishing it out.... aagch! Of course the courageous and dharmic thing to do is the same as if it's your friend.
Now when you ask "if you know they will go on to.... others" that is a different ball-game because there is time for rational thought. Personally, I believe that love, true non-attached love that is ~ not soppy "I want you" love ~ is the strongest force in the universe, and the best energy we can give to anyone for change and for good. And I would want to do whatever was within my relationship to dissuade anyone from hurting others.... quite apart from anything else, hurting others is a surefire road to suffering for oneself sooner or later, and I wouldn't want my loved one to suffer.
And, yes, there are special situations. If my friend has seriously threatened to kill X, X certainly needs to know about it and X may go on to tell the police (or worse, his thug mates) even if I don't. I would ideally want to first warn X to take avoiding action, then warn my friend that I had done so. Or possibly the other way round. I don't think I can map out in advance what is right, only do what feels or seems best when a circumstance arises. Habits of love, peace and truth will be stalwart guides.
2006-11-15 05:33:32 · answer #1 · answered by MBK 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In my opinion, this happens all too much. What needs to happen is the observation of others' perspectives. If someone's going to do something, you can't really stop them unless they decide to do so on their own. Otherwise, they'll still be planning it. I mean, you could intimidate them or tie them down or whatever...they can do it later...that just buys you time. If on the other hand, you truly make them think, they might reconsider. They might not. I don't think there's a way to actually control anyone. And it's hard sometimes when you know someone's going to do something you disagree with. I mean, you could always warn the person that they want to do harm to, help them. If it's a person you love, as you identified, then quite often they love you back or respect you or something to that nature, and if that is the case, then they would respect what you had to say. ("You" is ambiguous in this case.)
It's like international peace...it becomes based on who harbors more nukes...peace based on fear. Which, as I'm sure many people can agree, isn't really peace.
I think my answer works for whoever it may be, so long as it's on a sort of individual level. As far as world ethics problems, I haven't figured that one out yet. If I knew that, I'd probably have a Nobel Peace Prize.
-Lena
2006-11-15 01:13:47 · answer #2 · answered by Lena 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You ethically should stop this person. It doesn't matter how close they are to you or how high in authority they are. You would be the one to suffer if something terrible happened to a child or someones mother, sister, brother, etc. You would live the rest of your life knowing you could have prevented something terrible and didn't.
Great Question bye the way.
2006-11-15 01:01:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I say if you don't do something to stop someone you know is a hazard to human beings it is partially your fault. Well, not your fault,lol. You know what I mean. If it were someone I loved it would depend on the situation. Who is this person? If it were a family member, I would have them committed after gathering evidence to be able to. If it were a person in an authoritarian position I would make others aware using a media source. That would protect me from backlashes. Someone in a position of authority is extremely powerful against one person, but against a town, they haven't a chance. Good question.
2006-11-15 00:53:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I was in this situation once, The guy knocked my co worker in th eback of the head wihtout reason and got in several strong licks in his face before he realized what was going down. He than got him in a choke hold and brought him ot th eground where he evidenty was goin gto hurt him more. It's a good thing he had a claw hamme rin his tool pouch which i took out and convienced him his best option was to let the guy go.
Would I have hit him? Absoultely. It's all animals of his sort understand.
2006-11-15 02:38:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The answer is easy....you do what you have to do where this person can't do any more harm to anyone.
2006-11-16 08:18:02 · answer #6 · answered by Jaded 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am doing my dissertation on the panopticon system and population effects. Please add me on msn cream0anthems@hotmail.com. I would like an hour of your time to discuss this. Danny
2006-11-15 00:50:51 · answer #7 · answered by Dan Cambs Uni 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
have u been watching too much home and away or something?
2006-11-15 00:51:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋