Moral Choice

[David Boots]

Real life moral dilemmas (1).

A couple have a turbulent relationship. There are accusations of violence on both sides. You see the mother with bruises on her face a few times. She confides in you that he slaps her around now and then. The couple eventually break up for good shortly after the birth of their first child. The mother refuses the father access to their child.

The father makes an application in court to have visitation rights. The mother obtains a temporary intervention (restraining) order against the father. The matter comes to court and you happen to be there. In a break from the proceeding you observe the father walk past the mother and her family. Shortly afterwards the mother claims to the police that she was threatened by the father. To your mind and in your plain sight she was quite clearly not threatened. The police arrest and charge the father. Unable to defend the remainder of the hearing he loses his only chance to be granted visitation rights to his only child.

Do you tell the police that there was no threat made?

• This topic was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by David Boots.
• This topic was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by David Boots.

[_Robert_]

Yes. Plus the truth is always easy to remember.

[JadeBlackOlive]

Seeing the man ‘walk’ past the family doesn’t mean no threat was orally made while walking past. Seeing is mentioned, but not hearing.

[tom sarbeck]

No. People who know each other can easily make threats inaudibly or gesturally.
In the above case, I can say only that I did not perceive a threat’s being communicated.

[David Boots]

Assume, for the sake of the exercise, you can categorically and irrefuteably know that no threat was made.

 

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by David Boots.

[tom sarbeck]

David, your opening post told of events that took place in a courtroom, not of hypotheticals intended for discussion in a philosophy class. It all reads very much like special pleading.

[David Boots]

Yes it does indeed.

[Andrew Brown]

For the sake of conversation, I will assume the referenced threat occurred while the father passes the mother and child.
I am unable to make a positive claim either way as I am not close enough to hear the threat. I would suggest the officer confirm with the others in ear shot.

Women beaters are no longer fit for society and women know it; makes it easier for women to use the justice system against their abuser.

[Dang Martin]

Husband beaters are still a-okay.

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