Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Philosophy Wire: Japan, nuclear threat and the sense of duty in the face of death


Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2011-03-16]: When all people are removed from the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, 180 people remain there [source: CNN Edition web news]. They are people who work at the factory so as to prevent the meltdown of the core even at the last moment, although the risk to receive high doses or fatal radiation is growing. What makes these people stay? What creates in them this sense of duty? It is the duty of Kant or something "higher" that steers them? (see The Source of Ethics article) Or is it just selfishness covered up: they choose sacrificed for the survival of their children and the survival of their genes? Honestly, which of the two theories looks more ... stupid at first glance?

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