What if like the Nazi's said choose a family, we will kill them or we will kill your Family.If you choose them you can go on as before.Would you put your self first?
2007-07-22 14:49:32 · 11 answers · asked by SHAWN 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
This is a trap, as Life is, all the time.
Man , just to escape his immediate predicament or fall, chooses an alternate that is not righteous. Yes. he escapes immediate fall. But his exposed vulnerability , makes his tormentors exploit him further and further till he is destroyed by his own conscience.
It is better to realise this in the first place and not commit this crime. It is better to give oneself up than giving in .
This philosophy is embedded in everything in life. Just about everything.
2007-07-22 15:02:26 · answer #1 · answered by YD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most hostage situations employ this tactic. The problem is that I am not responsible for the actions of the Nazi demanding my response. It requires first, that the nazi be truthful and follow through on the "threat". The important aspect of your question is the notion of threatening another with psychological terror. I wouldn't feel guilty regardless of who the nazi killed. It was their action and not my doing, or my fault.
I could say kill the other family and my own family still be killed. I could say nothing, and both families be killed. Why we would assume that the nazi isn't going to kill you, the family and your own family is another issue entirely.
I don't respond to threats. The nazi will do as the nazi pleases. My loss will be something that I can deal with.
Unfortunately, too many of us respond to threats. Even when those threats will never be acted on.
2007-07-22 21:57:46 · answer #2 · answered by guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lets face it, we would all choose our own family. Others are strangers sadly to say. It's like war. Politicians use the term collateral damage. They are strangers, so we accept the prognosis.
The reality is your damned if you do and damned if you don't. Undoubtedly you would retain guilt ,but the Nazi's were the murderers.
What would you do if they said, you kill the other family with your own hand, and we will let your family go. Opens up a whole new can of worms.
2007-07-22 22:23:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For one never trust a Nazi, they would probably kill both just for kicks. I mean with a gun in hand and the fact that you're pleading for mercy already makes them feel so high and mighty. Almost like a god.
2007-07-22 22:21:13 · answer #4 · answered by Made In Chinatown 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know. I've never been faced with making such a decision and the likelihood of it ever being posed is less than my chance of winning the lottery.
J.
http://www.jrichardjacobs.net
"The speed of the brain is inversely proportional to the speed of the mouth squared."
2007-07-22 21:56:14 · answer #5 · answered by orbitaldata 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no disrespect to the other family, but i would choose them....no matter what one says there is an underlying need for survival....not many people could HONESTLY say that they would put them selves up first, or their family.....
I think if we were actually faced with a decision to make, like this one, it would be the HARDEST choice you would ever make...
RYANK
2007-07-22 22:02:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not if i had some MAJOR enemies...plus side would be getting Bush out of office till election...but that would put Cheney(?) in and that wouldn't be good
2007-07-22 21:58:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No because I'd never be able to live with myself. I'd rather die than live a lifetime full of guilt.
2007-07-22 22:08:49 · answer #8 · answered by *Veronica* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is not to choose. If you participate by choosing, then you are complicit.
2007-07-22 21:57:13 · answer #9 · answered by Ron S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have to. I could never betray my family like that.
2007-07-22 22:12:20 · answer #10 · answered by milkiemybaby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋