Question

Suppose B is about to do something unjust to C and A is in a position to actively prevent B from doing this with almost no effort yet A refrains from preventing B from doing what he intends to do, resulting in B doing the unjust action to C. There is clearly something wrong with what A has chosen to do, but I'm finding it very difficult to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with it. It doesn't seem to me that A actedunfairly since to me it seems that for someone to do something unfair he must cause something to happen to someone that the person didn't deserve, while in our case A didn't cause anything to happen to C: he simply didn't prevent what happened to C.It seems to me that A is actingunsympathetically, but I don't think that this really accounts for how wrong A's inaction seems. So, what exactly is wrong with A's inaction? Why should he help C?

Answer 1

A's inaction can be considered morally wrong as it goes against the principle of preventing harm to others. From an ethical perspective, preventing harm and promoting well-being are important. A's refusal to act disregards their duty to protect others.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, A's inaction can be considered morally wrong because it goes against the principle of preventing harm to others. While A may not have caused harm directly, they had the opportunity to prevent it but chose not to act. This can be seen as a failure to fulfill their moral responsibility to protect others from unjust actions.

From an ethical perspective, there are different theories that can justify the importance of helping others. Utilitarianism, for example, focuses on maximizing overall happiness or well-being. In this case, preventing B from doing something unjust to C would have a positive impact on C's well-being and contribute to the greater happiness of society.

Ultimately, it is morally wrong for A to refrain from preventing harm when they have the ability to do so with little effort, as it disregards their duty to protect others and uphold ethical principles.