Everyday life can provide ample reason for such feelings. The casual unfairness, cruelty, indifference, and arrogance of others can erode the spirit. The life of a recluse has a siren song that can seem noble in its simplicity.
But is it ethical?
Let's set aside the case of a person who clearly has the potential to find a cure for cancer or some other extraordinary advance. Let us also exempt the individual who needs to get away for a while in order to avoid burn-out.
Can a person who is capable to making life just a bit better for others ethically withdraw that assistance solely in the name of comfort?
4 comments:
Not a questions we can answer for others. One must search his own soul for such an answer.
Pawnking,
Kant would ask, "If everyone did it, would it be a good thing?"
In that case, the answer would be no.
An ethical justification for slavery? How do you know you are making things better and not worse? A reminder we are paid, not for our efforts, but for our results?
Lord,
I think you may have lost me on the slavery part. I'm not talking about forced servitude. And there are times when you know - to the extent to which knowledge is granted to any of us - that your participation will make things better.
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