Would you kill an innocent child to save 100 people?

Question

Disclaimer: This question is graphic in nature, and I take no responsibility if it affects anyone's sensibilities.

Yes, it has been asked in so many films. But would you kill an healthy innocent baby to save the lives of 100 people?

If you do not kill the baby, the 100 people will die a slow agonizing death over a period of 1 year.

Answer 1

Yes. I would probably kill an innocent kid to save 10 people. However, it depends on the situation. For example, if the child would have to die to save 100 elderly people on life support, no.

Then definitely yes. I think that one person's life is worth the price of one hundred other people's. One kid dying is worth having saving 100 other people's kids life. We are all some body's children. It does not matter what age they are. (Unless the 100 people would die soon anyway) If I had the chance to take my life to save 100 other people, I would not hesitate. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the betterment of the whole, no matter how tragic and sad it is.

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

Never.

Answer 4

i wouldn't if it was my child. i would if i had no idea who it was and i knew somebody in the 100 people. :)

Answer 5

Tough one... If you're religious you'd have to believe that there's an age of accountability, where the child, unable to fully know and understand God, would go straight to heaven if killed... A much better future than most of us could ever hope for...  And the 100 people knowing that this child died for them, may turn them to faith, saving even more people... However, a year is plenty of time for people to make their peace with God.

If this is a strictly cut and dry question, no religion involved, no knowledge of these people...then all we can look at would be the numbers.  Look at it in terms of money... what would you rather lose? A crumpled hundred dollar bill, or a shiny one dollar coin? That crumpled bill can make a lot more shiny coins... ... ... Insensitive, but true.

I see it as more of a practical to human life question... in those 100 people there may be, doctors, ambulance drivers,   fire fighters... basically the potential to save much more than the one life lost... I'm sorry, but I would have to sacrifice the child to save the 100...

... ... ...

My answer stays the same, even after you've clarified...

Answer 6

No. I wouldn't. It is not my responsibility what happens to other people. They die all the time for reasons beyond my control. I can only be held accountable for my own actions ie. To kill or not kill the child. I will not be blackmailed.

Answer 7

It really depends on who the 100 people are. But generally, I would say no. Those 100 people have had a chance to live at least some sort of life. The innocent baby should have that chance as well.

But I can't give a definite answer to the question because like I said, it would have to depend on the nature of the situation and the people involved.

EDIT: After your clarification, no, I would not sacrifice the baby. If 100 people have a strange disease that can only be cured by a rare gene, then why save them? They will just recover, have children (since they're in their 20s) and pass on the disease to their kids. If you let the innocent baby survive, he/she is protected from the disease thanks to that gene. So allow the baby to spread that gene around and hopefully get rid of that diease. Survival of the fittest, so to speak.

Answer 8

really depends - if any of the 100 owes me money

Answer 9

Well, I think I would have to say no.  I mean if they people have a year, then they should have time to find a way to help them.  I mean if this child has something to do with why they live or die, maybe this child could have the cure too.

Answer 10

glad you clarified the paramiters of this exercize, can we also assume the 100 people who died are not contagious?

I say we wait a couple of weeks or months to let the child grow and become more healthy while the doctors stive to maximize the curing potential of the child w/o killing it. Most likely they will die, the cure will be synthesized for future generations.

Answer 11

No this econmy Every Child that is innocent should have th right to live there life. People Die and new People are born thats how it works

Answer 12

no i wouldn't  I am not god and i can not choose who lives or dies

Answer 13

no. children are the only ones who deserve to live because of their innocence.