Philosophy
Looking at the Red Cross signs for donations to help the victims of the earthquake/tsunami/potential nuclear meltdown in Japan, raises questions about the moral imperative to help. When the earthquake struck Haiti, there were horrible conditions as well. But a major difference was that it was in one of the world's poorest countries with a barely functioning government who had little in the way of resources or expertise to deal with the problems of the suffering population. In Japan, on the other hand, you have one of the world's wealthiest countries with a track record of dealing very expeditiously with disasters in a way that stands as a model to the rest of the world. This is meant in no way to downplay the very real suffering of the Japanese people, but only to draw a contrast between the contexts.
Does that context come with moral import in that if the aid is not absolutely necessary, do you still have a responsibility/the same responsibility to help? Does human suffering itself generate the need to act to help alleviate it? Is our individual obligation altered at all by considerations of the means, resources, and expertise of the sufferer or does the suffering itself trigger our obligation to help?
- The Problem Of Non-evil
Is the standard notion of heaven self-consistent? Can you have both the necessary freedom from suffering and freedom of the will for those in heaven? If you say that there is no suffering in heaven because the only people allowed in are those who would...
- Id, Ego, And Supercalifragilisticexpialidotious
Schadenfreude -- enjoying the suffering of others... Freudenschade -- suffering in the delight of others... Freudundschatze -- A famous psychologist and his sweetie... Freudenschadenfreude -- suffering at others enjoying the suffering of others......
- Powerful Quake/tsunami Hits Japan
As you're probably all aware by now, Japan has been hit by a powerful earthquake/tsunami combination, the likes of which has caused massive amounts of destruction. My thoughts are with the victims of this natural disaster. And here are some pictures...
- Japan's Power Thirst Will Necessitate 14 Nuclear Power Plants
Is this really a wise decision? "Japan planning 14 nuclear plants: report" March 21st, 2010 Nuclear Power Daily Resource-poor Japan is planning to build at least 14 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years to reduce its reliance on other countries...
- "orphan Or Designer" Drug Poll
Should "orphan or designer" drugs be manufactured and made available to those who suffer rare diseases? Yes...3 No...0 I think it is an ethical imperative for the megadollar drug companies to perform research and development and distribution of "orphan...
Philosophy
Is There a Moral Difference Between the Needs of Victims in Japan and Haiti?
Looking at the Red Cross signs for donations to help the victims of the earthquake/tsunami/potential nuclear meltdown in Japan, raises questions about the moral imperative to help. When the earthquake struck Haiti, there were horrible conditions as well. But a major difference was that it was in one of the world's poorest countries with a barely functioning government who had little in the way of resources or expertise to deal with the problems of the suffering population. In Japan, on the other hand, you have one of the world's wealthiest countries with a track record of dealing very expeditiously with disasters in a way that stands as a model to the rest of the world. This is meant in no way to downplay the very real suffering of the Japanese people, but only to draw a contrast between the contexts.
Does that context come with moral import in that if the aid is not absolutely necessary, do you still have a responsibility/the same responsibility to help? Does human suffering itself generate the need to act to help alleviate it? Is our individual obligation altered at all by considerations of the means, resources, and expertise of the sufferer or does the suffering itself trigger our obligation to help?
- The Problem Of Non-evil
Is the standard notion of heaven self-consistent? Can you have both the necessary freedom from suffering and freedom of the will for those in heaven? If you say that there is no suffering in heaven because the only people allowed in are those who would...
- Id, Ego, And Supercalifragilisticexpialidotious
Schadenfreude -- enjoying the suffering of others... Freudenschade -- suffering in the delight of others... Freudundschatze -- A famous psychologist and his sweetie... Freudenschadenfreude -- suffering at others enjoying the suffering of others......
- Powerful Quake/tsunami Hits Japan
As you're probably all aware by now, Japan has been hit by a powerful earthquake/tsunami combination, the likes of which has caused massive amounts of destruction. My thoughts are with the victims of this natural disaster. And here are some pictures...
- Japan's Power Thirst Will Necessitate 14 Nuclear Power Plants
Is this really a wise decision? "Japan planning 14 nuclear plants: report" March 21st, 2010 Nuclear Power Daily Resource-poor Japan is planning to build at least 14 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years to reduce its reliance on other countries...
- "orphan Or Designer" Drug Poll
Should "orphan or designer" drugs be manufactured and made available to those who suffer rare diseases? Yes...3 No...0 I think it is an ethical imperative for the megadollar drug companies to perform research and development and distribution of "orphan...