30. "Snitches Get Stitches"? Utilitarianism verses Human Rights Theory: "Social Distancing"?

Snitches get Stitches? Utilitarianism verses Rights theory:

 

Today’s Death Camp…did I say “death camp”? I meant “Happy Camp!”! Q: What is the morality of snitching on those who don’t do government ordered “social distancing”? At least in distancing in public. (We would hope, in the case of romantic couples…or would we?) Never mind.  So: Everyone wandering around acting like they are in a really bad marriage, etc.. Snitching, that is, informing law enforcement of the behavior of others--friends, family, neighbors, total strangers, even yourself—of not maintaining executive orders of “social distancing”: The now famous “6 feet” (2 meters) orders. So you walk into a store holding your SO’s (significant other) hand and the snitches talk pictures of you two, your car, your plates, and here come the police. DUNK! DUNK! DUNK! DUNK!! On your door. You are then arrested. By masked men. Literally. Both of you. Off to a CV19 infested jail. Where you might actually get sick and later die. Why? For exercising your vision of the good life (rights theory). Should you be arrested on Utilitarianism/consequentialism? Should you be left alone, on Rights theory?

 

This question will appear on our upcoming Final.

 

One view (Styx):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aznoRNCwPWk

Another forceful opinion (police, NYPD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9z-ke84-g4 

And another view (BBC),

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYQjssb7xdk

And finally, our now famous Dallas, TX, hair stylist, who refused to close her hair salon in Dallas and was sent to jail,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8ktM-GuZgs

Notice that two women in Laredo, TX, were arrested in their homes for cutting their friends’ hair. A neighbor “snitched them out”.

I report the debate, you decide the outcome: Which theory, Utilitarianism or Rights Theory, prevails? That is, wins? Please note that if one theory is true, the other cannot be; unless we have a third theory that puts one over the other in some critical cases and allows the lesser theory to operate in other cases. That is, relegatesthe lesser theory to the great theory. So here: Which has the greater moral authority, moral power: Utilitarianism (consequence theory) or human Rights theory?

Watch all these. Utilitarianism and Rights Theory Toe2Toe in a steel cage death match.

Welcome to the real world. Philosophy is like that…

Final is coming.

Dr. Lee Basham