Brenton
Possible Calamity vs. Certain Bad
February 4th 2008 13:57
A life so protected, one's joy is neglected? Or a life so exited, that woe is invited?
There is a brick chimney on your roof that has been corroded by rain. You really have two choices. You can climb up on the roof and run the slight risk of slipping and seriously injuring yourself, or you can leave it and wait until it all falls to bits and you have to pay someone a stupid amount of money to fix it for you.
Such is the kind of argument we run into every day. Should we risk a potential (if unlikely) calamity, in order to prevent an otherwise inevitable ‘badness’.
The area in which I wanted to look at this, for a short while, was in the world of child raising. We are all frightened by the prospect of something happening to our children. We know the likelihood of some great disaster – abduction or worse, is essentially extremely unlikely. However we have heard cases where horrendous things have happened, a cost for no more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What we are essentially discussing here is the very concept of risk and safety. To what extent should we protect ourselves from potential dangers? Especially when we consider the idea that absolute protection is the same as absolute oppression – an evil of sorts in itself.
Three dangerous things that we as a society have recognised to be technically dangerous, but so integral to mankind to be permissible; Cars, Knives and Alcohol.
Cars, and other modes of transport are regarded as acceptable because they are an integral part of our societies need to travel great distances on varying schedules. Every time we get into a car we run the risk of death from our own mistake, or the ever-present incompetence of other drivers.
Knives are permitted as there is an understanding the only flesh being cut up will be dead and non-Saipan. People do kill with knives though.
Alcohol is an interesting one, as it’s predominant impact is the facilitation of a kind of self harm. However we see it of enough recreational value to permit it. It is also worth noting that alcohols legal status stems to from the recognised ramifications of the inevitable black market.
What makes Knives, Cars and Alcohol acceptable where Machine Guns, Marijuana and Personal Tanks are unacceptable. Where is the invisible line drawn and why?
Most importantly, what is the greater evil; Letting our avoidance of disaster damage our life, or letting our enjoyment of life leave us open to disaster?
Image by Ford used under a Creative Commons Attribution License.
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