Freethought & Rationalism Archive

orpheus last chant · 04-16-2007, 08:51 AM

I'd steal (from the deal, from the living - though not from anyone and in any circumtance). Basically, the more desperate I'd be, the more my desire to be virtuous would be diminished. Before you call me an amoral monster, I'd need to be really desperate before doing something I consider wrong.

The second hypotheticals - nope. Why?

2) Rich dead people don't rest in wooden coffins in shallow graves. They rest in heavily concreted metal plated boxes. Plus, stealing is wrong if you don't need it. And 1 million dollars is a small sum, especially when it's in the form of an easily detectable stone (so it's value on the blackmarket would be little at best)

3) That's just stupid. Get the money from a guy that I killed? All pretence at self defence goes right out the window when I can't explain its origin.

bammertheblue · 04-18-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustBlazed

This question came to me after driving by a cemetary on my lunch break from work and there were a bunch of guys digging a new grave. I thought to myself, "I wonder if those guys have ever robbed a corpse". Then I wondered to myself if *I* would do it in a particular situation (I'm not giving my answer just yet) and then it ultimately led to me starting this thread to find out how ya'll would respond to my certain situations.

Let's look at a few different scenarios....

1. There has just been a major diseaster in whatever country you live in, bodies strewn throughout the streets. You pass a body of a man who is wearing a large gold necklace and many diamonds/gold pieces on his fingers. You realize you may be able to barter for food rations with the jewelry because your country is going to be suffering for quite some time, do you take it from the dead man?

This depends. If I was starving to death or had a family to support, yes, I probably would.

Quote:

2. You're a grave digger and learn that the richest woman in town recently died. You have gotten "insider information" that she will be buried with her engagement ring her oil tycoon husband bought for her that is worth over $1 million USD. YOU are the one that will seal the inturnment. A few hours have passed after the funeral service, it is getting dark and there is no one else around. Would you take the ring from the woman before shoveling dirt on her casket?

No. Taking someone's engagement ring, even though they aren't exactly using it any more, makes me feel icky. I would leave it. I think it's stupid to bury something that valuable, and would wish that the dead woman had given it to an heir or donated the money to charity, but I don't think I would be able to take it without feeling really awful about myself.

Quote:

3. A man tries to mug you. In the ensuing struggle, he is stabbed with the weapon he garnished in the heart on accident....he keels over and dies instantly in front of you. You notice a wad of cash sticking out of his pocket of what you perceive to be $5,000 USD from all the other muggings he had done that day. Would you take the money from the dead man who just tried to rob you?

Yes. Well, ,maybe. I think if I had just killed someone who was trying to mug/kill me, I would probably not have the presence of mind to do anything other than scream and run away.

Quote:

Are your answers more related to desperation? (Scenario 1) How about how much money you could make? (Scenario 2 vs. 3)

Please justify your actions for my particular scenarios as to why or why not.....and if you think of your own in a situation where you WOULD steal from the dead, I would love to hear it.

I think my answers are more related to desperation. Right now, although I'm certainly not rich, I have a home, I have food in my fridge and cupboards, I have warm clothes, etc. If I didn't have those things, my answers might change a lot. Unfortunate but true.

Writer@Large · 04-19-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustBlazed

You realize you may be able to barter for food rations with the jewelry because your country is going to be suffering for quite some time, do you take it from the dead man?

Yes. In the above-described scenario, I would steal from the dead man. My need is great, and there would likely be no consequences to my actions (no one's likely to find out or prosecute). In such a disaster situation, self-preservation trumps social taboos.

Quote:

Would you take the ring from the woman before shoveling dirt on her casket?

No. Despite my personal distaste for sentimental funerary customs, I know that the society I live in values it highly, and so I respect my society. Also, such a ring would probably unique and easily identifiable; the risk in getting caught (or the effort needed to not get caught) is too high.

Quote:

You notice a wad of cash sticking out of his pocket of what you perceive to be $5,000 USD from all the other muggings he had done that day. Would you take the money from the dead man who just tried to rob you?

No. The dead mugger will lead to a police inquiry, and my prints are all over the place. Besides, I need to go to the police RIGHT AWAY to explain the unusual situation and clear my name.

Now, if the $5000 wad were just laying in a gutter with no clear indication of ownership, it's mine in a heartbeat. Loose money is free money.

Are your answers more related to desperation? (Scenario 1) How about how much money you could make? (Scenario 2 vs. 3)

Please justify your actions for my particular scenarios as to why or why not.....and if you think of your own in a situation where you WOULD steal from the dead, I would love to hear it.[/QUOTE]

WWJD4aKlondikeBar · 04-19-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustBlazed

Please justify your actions for my particular scenarios as to why or why not.....and if you think of your own in a situation where you WOULD steal from the dead, I would love to hear it.

1. Of course I do! Especially considering what would happen to those valuables if I didn't take them - someone else would. I noticed that you didn't bother to ask if I gave the guy a proper burial. I'd cremate him.

2.Nope. I don't need it and even if I don't get caught it's not like I could ever safely sell such a ring without leaving evidence of my crime.

3.Yes, but I'd "take" it to the police and get a million attaboys from the victims instead of trying to explain my fingerprints at the scene of a murder.

These weren't very complex or difficult decisions to make. I can't think of a better one right now but your examples are very easy to justify in exactly the ways that I did.

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04-16-2007, 08:51 AM	#21
orpheus last chant Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Romania Posts: 4,975	I'd steal (from the deal, from the living - though not from anyone and in any circumtance). Basically, the more desperate I'd be, the more my desire to be virtuous would be diminished. Before you call me an amoral monster, I'd need to be really desperate before doing something I consider wrong. The second hypotheticals - nope. Why? 2) Rich dead people don't rest in wooden coffins in shallow graves. They rest in heavily concreted metal plated boxes. Plus, stealing is wrong if you don't need it. And 1 million dollars is a small sum, especially when it's in the form of an easily detectable stone (so it's value on the blackmarket would be little at best) 3) That's just stupid. Get the money from a guy that I killed? All pretence at self defence goes right out the window when I can't explain its origin.

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