Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Llewlladdwr

(2,175 posts)

5. What if it was 500 potential victims?

Reply to Bonobo (Original post)

Wed Apr 3, 2013, 11:21 PM

Apr 2013

Or 5,000 or 500,000? Is it really better to let 500,000 innocent people die when you could stop that from happening at the cost of one or two innocent lives?

Ethics are hard, and often there are no good choices. Just a series of less bad ones...

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

24 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Would you accept the death of a few innocents if it meant taking out a potential mass killer? [View all] Bonobo Apr 2013 OP

We would have to kill half our politicians Arctic Dave Apr 2013 #1

To save 50? Yes. nt Comrade_McKenzie Apr 2013 #2

Well, I at least admire consistency. Bonobo Apr 2013 #3

Until it's your kid. n/t flvegan Apr 2013 #7

What if his kid was to be drafted to fight a battle that a drone could pre-empt? Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2013 #17

Would you be willing to be one of those one or two to save 50? How about your spouse or child? liberal_at_heart Apr 2013 #8

Never. Because it's a fallacy to ever believe the ends justifies the means. Cleita Apr 2013 #4

What if it was 500 potential victims? Llewlladdwr Apr 2013 #5

The key word is potential. Flying Squirrel Apr 2013 #6

In my defense, the OP is a little vague on "potential". Llewlladdwr Apr 2013 #9

The OP is vague, yes.. Flying Squirrel Apr 2013 #10

Agreed, Bonobo LittleBlue Apr 2013 #11

We should not be using drones. RobertEarl Apr 2013 #12

If I could go back in time and kill li'l Hitler at his playground with 4 or 5 of his friends WonderGrunion Apr 2013 #13

If you went back in time, you wouldn't have to even kill Hitler. Cleita Apr 2013 #14

I love alternate history. (nt) Nye Bevan Apr 2013 #15

You are standing outside an elementary school in Leonding, Austria... sarisataka Apr 2013 #16

Empty the pistol and give it back to the man. Cleita Apr 2013 #18

Good answer sarisataka Apr 2013 #20

Is this some kind of trick question where I end up shooting Wittgenstein? JVS Apr 2013 #19

No trick... sarisataka Apr 2013 #22

The answer of course is No, and American lives are of no more value than theirs are! I hate that our Sadiedog Apr 2013 #21

It's not really our government anymore. It's the government of corporate America Cleita Apr 2013 #24

Walking with someone carrying an RPG in a combat zone isn't smart One_Life_To_Give Apr 2013 #23