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Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: MillCreek on October 20, 2017, 03:55:24 PM

Title: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: MillCreek on October 20, 2017, 03:55:24 PM

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/10/sci-fi-writer-baffles-abortion-foes-with-simple-question-would-you-save-1000-embryos-or-one-child-in-fire/

Interesting logic exercise.

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: makattak on October 20, 2017, 04:31:07 PM

Actually, it's not.

http://www.dailywire.com/news/22360/pro-abortion-fanatic-presented-thought-experiment-ben-shapiro

Mainly because it isn't using logic, it's using emotional response.

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: makattak on October 20, 2017, 04:35:50 PM

And, in a counter emotional response:

You're in the same building and you see two women, identical twins actually, trapped by the fire. One is with her husband, the other is pregnant. You can only save one group.

Which do you save?..
.
.
.
.
.
.

Now why are you saving the pregnant twin? (Or, if you didn't answer that, why are you lying to me/yourself?)

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: MillCreek on October 20, 2017, 04:42:24 PM

How is this scenario different from the trolley problem?

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: dogmush on October 20, 2017, 04:45:59 PM

Quote from: makattak on October 20, 2017, 04:35:50 PM

Now why are you saving the pregnant twin? (Or, if you didn't answer that, why are you lying to me/yourself?)

Because I have a shot with her.  She'll be grieving for her sister and need emotional 'support'.  The other girl will just run to her Husband.   >:D


(I know, that's bad.  But let's be honest, Abortion Threads crater in under a page.  We might as well get it in early.)

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: Angel Eyes on October 20, 2017, 05:09:36 PM

Apparently Tomlinson blocked Shapiro on Twitter after Shapiro dismantled his argument.

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: Perd Hapley on October 20, 2017, 06:51:32 PM

An interesting thing about that question is that you have a reasonable expectation that the 5-year-old child won't be murdered out of hand, or even if he is left to die of neglect, someone will face consequences. On the other hand, if you "save" 1000 frozen embryos, you know society will still view them as non-persons they can keep in a frozen box, or simply discard. So if you choose the embryos, you haven't really saved them. That muddies the waters considerably.

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: Firethorn on October 20, 2017, 09:16:45 PM

Quote from: dogmush on October 20, 2017, 04:45:59 PM

Because I have a shot with her.  She'll be grieving for her sister and need emotional 'support'.  The other girl will just run to her Husband.   >:D

There is probably some truth in this.

Personally, I think the pregnant woman would have to be in considerably less danger.  A healthy pair of adult humans can get themselves out of a heck of a lot more than a single pregnant human can.  I can provide proportionally less assistance.

Basically, I'm less willing to believe that both are equally 'trapped'.

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: K Frame on October 21, 2017, 09:14:09 AM

I'd choose to save the dog.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Would you save one child or 1000 human embryos?
Post by: sumpnz on October 22, 2017, 01:50:59 AM

Quote from: makattak on October 20, 2017, 04:35:50 PM

And, in a counter emotional response:

You're in the same building and you see two women, identical twins actually, trapped by the fire. One is with her husband, the other is pregnant. You can only save one group.

Which do you save?..
.
.
.
.
.
.

Now why are you saving the pregnant twin? (Or, if you didn't answer that, why are you lying to me/yourself?)

The pregnant twin.  Because the husband of the other one will be in the process of saving her (whether or not he makes it out alive).