Your own child or 5 other people's children?

Jihadi · Mar 2nd, 2009, 12:40 AM

Lets say we have ourselves one of those 'you can only save one' dilemmas, an incoming train a falling boulder, whatever you want. If you had on one side, your child (a single child), and on the other side, 5 children of people you do not know, would it be right to choose your own child and have 5 families suffer so that do not have to?
Also, is this type of question asked allot on the philosophy board? It seems like it would be, sorry if you guys get it allot.

Cheegum · Mar 2nd, 2009, 12:45 AM

If you're a believer and if you look at the bigger picture including the Hereafter, then it has to be the other five children. Of course, given the intensity of the moment one would most likely save his/her own kid - its only human nature.

WitchDr · Mar 2nd, 2009, 03:04 AM

It is a difficult question to answer, without being in that situation. If I am in such a situation, my first priority will be to save as many kids as possible even if I perish myself in that act. Priority will be to start saving from the youngest, while hoping the elder will have more sense to save themselves.

Secondly, although everyone has a general responsibility towards the society and the children, ones individual responsibility as a parent is to protect ones children first.

psyah · Mar 4th, 2009, 03:25 PM

The answer is your own child.

Firstly, we do not know the other family, they could be good or bad people we don't know, it doesn't mean that we should not try to save them but the priority lies with ones own child.

The emotional attachment to ones own child is there for a reason, it is because love of the one you know has greater priority over those we do not know.

Numbers is not what determines right or wrong. An injustice to one person is the same as an injustice to the whole of humanity. One should save their own child because the divine responsibility for that child's proctection lies initially with the parents and then after that with the people in general.

By saving your own child you will ensure that you raise them well too hopefully afterwards.

You will be conforming to a natural state to protect your own child.

Adults have greater cause for saving than children this is because they have greater responsibilities to others, children are masoom and will be saved from hellfire, but adults need time to repent and time to settle any debts with others.