The Merchant Vessel

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WanderingGaze22
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The Merchant Vessel

Post by WanderingGaze22 »

In this thought experiment, a merchant vessel is bound for home. Along the way, the ship encounters an unexpected storm and four of the crew members are thrown overboard and assumed lost. Later though, these crew members all wash to the shore of an island in which ships frequently make pit stops during the trading season. Alongside the crew, several crates of food and other supplies, also thrown overboard, wash up beside them. After taking an inventory of the crates, it is discovered that only enough food exists for three of the crew to survive until the next trading season when help will finally arrive back at the island. Unfortunately, trading season just ended. If they attempt to stretch out the food for all four of them, every one of them will surely die. Should the crew accept the fact that one should die to save the three remaining or hope for an unlikely miracle? If the crew decides to accept this fact... How should the crew decide who dies? Should it be upon age, merit, or some other factor? Should they draw straws to make it random? Finally, if the person selected to die attempts to fight the other three or steal their food, would the three be justified in killing the condemned man? And would the condemned man be justified in fighting back against his would-be murderers?

While debating, consider alternatives this predicament, such as using the food and other supplies for fishing or making a raft.
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LuckyR
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Re: The Merchant Vessel

Post by LuckyR »

WanderingGaze22 wrote: December 3rd, 2021, 2:50 am In this thought experiment, a merchant vessel is bound for home. Along the way, the ship encounters an unexpected storm and four of the crew members are thrown overboard and assumed lost. Later though, these crew members all wash to the shore of an island in which ships frequently make pit stops during the trading season. Alongside the crew, several crates of food and other supplies, also thrown overboard, wash up beside them. After taking an inventory of the crates, it is discovered that only enough food exists for three of the crew to survive until the next trading season when help will finally arrive back at the island. Unfortunately, trading season just ended. If they attempt to stretch out the food for all four of them, every one of them will surely die. Should the crew accept the fact that one should die to save the three remaining or hope for an unlikely miracle? If the crew decides to accept this fact... How should the crew decide who dies? Should it be upon age, merit, or some other factor? Should they draw straws to make it random? Finally, if the person selected to die attempts to fight the other three or steal their food, would the three be justified in killing the condemned man? And would the condemned man be justified in fighting back against his would-be murderers?

While debating, consider alternatives this predicament, such as using the food and other supplies for fishing or making a raft.
Are you familiar with Ernest Shackleton?
"As usual... it depends."
WanderingGaze22
Posts: 223
Joined: June 9th, 2021, 12:39 am

Re: The Merchant Vessel

Post by WanderingGaze22 »

[/quote]

Are you familiar with Ernest Shackleton?
[/quote]

The arctic explorer who led four expeditions in Antarctica during the 1900s? I understand there were intense struggles during those trips, but can you elaborate on where this question is leading?
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LuckyR
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Re: The Merchant Vessel

Post by LuckyR »

WanderingGaze22 wrote: December 4th, 2021, 3:05 am
LuckyR wrote:
Are you familiar with Ernest Shackleton?
The arctic explorer who led four expeditions in Antarctica during the 1900s? I understand there were intense struggles during those trips, but can you elaborate on where this question is leading?
"In August 1914 the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–16) left England under Shackleton’s leadership. He planned to cross Antarctica from a base on the Weddell Sea to McMurdo Sound, via the South Pole, but the expedition ship Endurance was trapped in ice off the Caird coast and drifted for 10 months before being crushed in the pack ice. The members of the expedition then drifted on ice floes for another five months and finally escaped in boats to Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, where they subsisted on seal meat, penguins, and their dogs. Shackleton and five others sailed 800 miles (1,300 km) to South Georgia in a whale boat, a 16-day journey across a stretch of dangerous ocean, before landing on the southern side of South Georgia. Shackleton and his small crew then made the first crossing of the island to seek aid. Four months later, after leading four separate relief expeditions, Shackleton succeeded in rescuing his crew from Elephant Island. Throughout the ordeal, not one of Shackleton’s crew of the Endurance died"

I think they could stretch 3 people's subsistence to 4 people.
"As usual... it depends."
WanderingGaze22
Posts: 223
Joined: June 9th, 2021, 12:39 am

Re: The Merchant Vessel

Post by WanderingGaze22 »

LuckyR wrote: December 5th, 2021, 1:30 am
"In August 1914 the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–16) left England under Shackleton’s leadership. He planned to cross Antarctica from a base on the Weddell Sea to McMurdo Sound, via the South Pole, but the expedition ship Endurance was trapped in ice off the Caird coast and drifted for 10 months before being crushed in the pack ice. The members of the expedition then drifted on ice floes for another five months and finally escaped in boats to Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, where they subsisted on seal meat, penguins, and their dogs. Shackleton and five others sailed 800 miles (1,300 km) to South Georgia in a whale boat, a 16-day journey across a stretch of dangerous ocean, before landing on the southern side of South Georgia. Shackleton and his small crew then made the first crossing of the island to seek aid. Four months later, after leading four separate relief expeditions, Shackleton succeeded in rescuing his crew from Elephant Island. Throughout the ordeal, not one of Shackleton’s crew of the Endurance died"

I think they could stretch 3 people's subsistence to 4 people.
I've heard of that particular trip and it is obvious no one knows what is going to happen on these trips but still, the fact Shackleton succeeded with no loss of life shows his leadership and his preparedness in such a situation. Like I implied, your survival only depends on what you have available to you.
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