Hey, what if I get eaten by a shark? Deliberately, against my will? I've
always thought that was a fitting death for a biologist, but, David, you
make me wonder; or are you going to tell me that the shark is acting
"naturally" and that makes it OK?
Just being snide. I know you mean murder, since I assume you won't be
attacking anyone. But, is it your will or the intent of the killer the
ethical issue here?
Steven
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of David Pearson
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 10:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Ethics and the species question
Hi,
Paul Kirby wrote:
[... interesting stuff deleted ...]
> Which boils down to:
>
> If an outcome in the natural world (an extinction perhaps) can come about
> either by "natural means" or as a result of human activity why is one
> acceptable and the other unacceptable?
I will eventually die, by a means which I hope will be natural.
If someone deliberately kills me against my will, however, that is likely to
be wrong.
One might ask exactly the same question here - why is the one
outcome OK, the other not? I don't know the answer, but I thought
the analogy might be a useful one.
Regards,
David.
--
David Pearson, Phone: +44 (0)118 9318741
ESSC, Fax: +44 (0)118 9316413
University of Reading, Email: [log in to unmask]
Reading RG6 6AL,
UK. www.nerc-essc.ac.uk/~dwcp/Home.html
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