A Question of Morality

Ever since we discussed the issues of morality and virtue in my cubicle with a couple of friends, I can’t stop thinking about the hypothetical situations, the risks and my choices. I’d wish you would all really think about it, what you would have to do, how much money it really is and how it would change your life. If you start tabulating how much money it really is and what you could do with it for yourself, family and friends… suddenly things seem a little easier to swallow. Answer each question before moving on to the next.

[1] Russian Roulette. The game is simple. A gun is loaded with one bullet (out of six chambers). The chambers are spun. The gun is loaded. It is put to your temple. The trigger is pulled. There is a one in six chance the gun will fire. How much money are you willing to play for? If you don’t die (5/6 chance) you take the money and walk away. If you do die, then well, you don’t get the money.

[2] Given all current risks and dangers involved with murder, could you plan/execute/follow through with the murder of a stranger in exchange for untaxed, untraceable cash? If so, how much is required? As in, what’s the lowest amount of money you are willing to personally murder a stranger? They say everyone has a price. What’s yours?

[3] What if we step back a moment; there is a large red button. This red button will randomly (and instantly) kill someone in the world. In exchange, you get paid for your hard work. The question is what’s the minimum amount of money you’ll be willing to do this for? Is the likelihood of one in six billion good enough for you? And does the friendliness of simply pushing a button for money make it acceptable?

I think by answering these questions we can come close to understanding exactly how much money we think is extravagant and how important money is to us. Do remember that this is the LOWEST amount you’d go for. That is, you may answer $50 million, but if you’d do it for $40 million.. then well, $40 million is your price tag.

The first question involves personal well being. It places value on your own life and at the successful probability of roughly 83%. This is a tough one especially if you really think about it. I mean the money you get would change your entire life, how you live, where you live, what you have, who you can help, etc. The second question removes your life from being on the line, but emphasis the gritty details and risks involved with taking another’s life. The third question is a tangent off the second, which really only removes the gritty details and makes it very impersonal. The trade off, of course, is the 0.0000001% likely that you’ll kill yourself or a loved one.

Adieu. Navid.