Moral dilemmas

SLAM: debunk creationism, pseudoscience, and superstitions. Discuss logic and morality.

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RayCav of ASVS
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Moral dilemmas

Post by RayCav of ASVS »

A scientist is developing something (a cure for cancer, a new power source, hell, FTL travel for all I care) and he is the only one who can develop the technology. However, he kills someone intentionally and maliciously. Do you bring him to justice immediately (life in prison or possibly death), or at least let him finish out his work?

Somewhat of the spinoff from above:

Let's say there's some information that the Nazis got by testing and maiming Jews and the information might be highly beneficial to humanity. Attempts to replicate said experiments might harm test subjects. Do you use the information, or do you try to replicate them yourself anyway?

BTW there is a precedent for this, during WWII the Nazis conducted hypothermia tests on Jews to see how long a human might survive underwater to determine U-boat crew survivability. The RN was highly interested on this post-war but abhorred the principle, so they used RN volunteers.
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Wicked Pilot
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Re: Moral dilemmas

Post by Wicked Pilot »

RayCav of ASVS wrote:A scientist is developing something (a cure for cancer, a new power source, hell, FTL travel for all I care) and he is the only one who can develop the technology. However, he kills someone intentionally and maliciously. Do you bring him to justice immediately (life in prison or possibly death), or at least let him finish out his work?
He can work on his project from behind bars. Someone can always come behind him and finish his work eventually. "Thousands for defense, not a cent for tribute"
Let's say there's some information that the Nazis got by testing and maiming Jews and the information might be highly beneficial to humanity. Attempts to replicate said experiments might harm test subjects. Do you use the information, or do you try to replicate them yourself anyway?
Use the info. What happened to the Jews was horrible, but they're dead now. I hate to say this, but dead prople don't give a shit about what happens after their passing. After all, they're dead. Besides, once Pandora's Box has been open, it cannot be closed.
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Mr Bean
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Post by Mr Bean »

Very simple, As long as he finishs he gets a nice appointed jail cell, however failure brings death


At the very least I'd leave off seeking the death penety

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Post by Coyote »

The Nazis tortured thousands in their twisted quest for medical 'knowledge', much of it useless because of its fantasied applications to proving Aryan genetic superiority.

But if some of that knowledge actually was useful, then yes, use it-- let their deaths mean something.
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In Communism, there is no Government, so the Workers are free to exploit the Bosses.
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Durandal
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Post by Durandal »

I'm going to assume that the victim was unwilling.

However, he violated his oath as a medical practitioner never to do intentional harm.
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Icehawk
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Post by Icehawk »

But if some of that knowledge actually was useful, then yes, use it-- let their deaths mean something.
Actually there was some useful knowledge that came from the Holocaust. Perticularily the experiments with human exposure to cold water and hypothermia. Saw it on a documentary awhile back.
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Post by Archaic` »

I've said it before elsewhere, and I'll say it again here.

For any country that allows the Death Penalty, give those on Death Row the choice. Die now, or serve humanity by becoming a test subject for these experiements, with the possibility of freedom after a minimum period of time (eg. 20 years?) if they manage to survive. The human instinct for self-preservation is quite strong, and I think we'd all be suprised by how many would leap at the chance if offered.
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salm
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Post by salm »

i agree with wicked pilot.
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