I encountered a plump, and likely juicy, beetle outside a building at the Santa Rosa Lake State Park. It was on its back, possibly helpless.
I wondered what was the ethical thing to do in this situation.
- To intervene: Flip it over so it could go about its business?
- To not intervene: Leave it as it was?
Of course, a third option would be to squash it, but I discarded that option.
Full disclosure: When such an insect enters my castle, then I kill it as swiftly as I can, both in execution and method. Moths and butterflies, different story. I will do what I can to get them safely out of the house. Yes, it is insect bias.While I considered the choices, I took its photo.
More disclosure: I have a bird feeder. I don't feed the feral cats in my neighborhood. Except possibly indirectly, as an unintended consequence of hosting a bird feeder.
What would you have done about the bug? What would The Ethicist say? The Prime Directive?
2 comments:
I would certainly turn it over. It would be against all my ethical opinions to leave it there. It has as much of a right to life as I do.
Thank you for weighing in on your opinion! It certainly gives one food for thought.
Post a Comment