Topic: The ethics of stealing Hitler's wallet.
Anonymous A started this discussion 15 years ago #6,241
Q:
It is 1933. You are in Berlin, Germany. Somehow you find yourself in a position where you can effortlessly steal Adolf Hitler's wallet. This theft will not effect Hitler's rise to power, the nature of World War II, or the Holocaust. there is no important identification in the wallet, but the act will cost Hitler forty Reichsmarks and completely ruin his evening. You do not need the money. The odds that you will be caught committing this crime are less than 2 percent.are you ethically obligated to steal Hitler's Wallet?
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later[^] [v] #108,139
wat......
Sure, I'd steal it then give it to my kids and tell them to sell it at an auction 50 years from then.
Sure, I'd steal it then give it to my kids and tell them to sell it at an auction 50 years from then.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 21 seconds later, 2 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #108,140
My opinion: No.
I am only ethically obligated to help another person (within reason). While I wouldn't feel bad about taking his wallet, and would still do it, I would not be obligated to ruin his evening as this helps no person. Punishment is only obligated to prevent further crime, and to rehabilitate- which in this case it does neither.
I am only ethically obligated to help another person (within reason). While I wouldn't feel bad about taking his wallet, and would still do it, I would not be obligated to ruin his evening as this helps no person. Punishment is only obligated to prevent further crime, and to rehabilitate- which in this case it does neither.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 4 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #108,144
> Somehow, you find yourself in a position where you can effortlessly steal Adolf Hitler's wallet.
Somehow. I lol'd.
Somehow. I lol'd.
(Edited 3 minutes later.)
sexual aerosol !!mtq555+/1 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 5 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #108,147
I love Chuck Klosterman