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From: ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>)
Newsgroups: net.legal
Subject: Re: Re: Is air piracy ALWAYS inexcusably evil?
Message-ID: <9372@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 20-Mar-85 12:59:46 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.9372
Posted: Wed Mar 20 12:59:46 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Mar-85 01:35:25 EST
References: <4260@ucla-cs.ARPA> <9278@brl-tgr.ARPA> <9311@brl-tgr.ARPA> <2331@mit-hermes.ARPA>
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 16

> Isn't this just another question of the type "Is it moral to commit an evil
> act in order to avert an even more evil event?" ie, stealing food if you're 
> starving. Many people would probably condone the guy's action if he were an
> innocent victim of a government we disapproved of--suppose someone on the run
> from the Iranian government hijacked an aircraft (it has happened, more than 
> once)? Does that make a difference? Could it be that we have different
> reactions to escape attempts by someone we see as "innocent" versus someone
> who is "guilty"?
No, the difference in the analogy between the starving person stealing the
loaf of bread and the hijacking of the airplane is that in the example you
show, petty theft is not a heinous crime.  It is wrong, but does not endanger
the life of the shopkeeper.  Consider what would happen if a thirsty  man
went and stole water from the limited reserves of a community that required
all its water to survive, like in the dessert, or on old ocean going vessels.

-Ron