TRUTH ABOUT THE LIFEBOAT

A parable about the ubiquitous "Life Boat" scenario every philosopher scribbles in his first manuscript:

The normal inhabitants of the lifeboat are a diversity of humans, ... and a dog.

As the water runs out, and the food is gone, the castaways begin to make survival decisions based upon the philosopher's vision of correct behavior. Some heavy occupants must go overboard, inadequate supplies must be rationed. How these problems are solved illustrates the utility of the ethics recommended by each philosopher's system.

Obviously the dog is eaten first, every philosopher agrees upon that. Then either the old person is eaten or tossed overboard, or the mentally deficient human, then the less 'valuable' person, etc. etc. until a few souls are left to arrive safely ashore.

But we now have a broader understanding of the universe in which these choices occur; and that while nearly all philosophers posit that there are no rules from the natural world that place restrictions on the *ethical* behavior of the inhabitants of the lifeboat, this is indeed not the case in reality.

As the thirsty survivors wash ashore in the nearly empty lifeboat, the beautiful goddess Mother Nature is there to greet them with open arms, celebrating their successful triumph over the ordeal at sea.

She has but one question, "Where's the dog?"

Unable to give a satisfactory answer, the lifeboat's remaining occupants are tossed back into the sea to drown in Mother Nature's cruel surf ....