Choice?

[lawtonfogle]

If a person held a gun up to your head and told you to do X or he would kill you, do you have a choice of what to do?

If a person held a gun up to the head of a beloved family member, is the same true?

If a person held up a gun to some random child's head, is the same true?

What if all you had to do was jump on one foot?
What if all you had to do was kill some third person?


So many people consider these things as lacking choice. Such as if someone would kill your family unless you stole went and stole some vehicle, many here would say the person who stole the vehicle shouldn't be charged with the crime, yet did he not choose to steal it? What about if it was hunger holding up a 'gun' to his families head, and if he didn't steal and sell the vehicle, his family would have died from lack of food? What if hunger is holding the gun up to the head of a random child?


Final question... should someone who steals food because they need to eat be charged with a crime?

 

[Blackrend]

If a person held a gun up to your head and told you to do X or he would kill you, do you have a choice of what to do?

It depends on what he'd ask. I definitely have a choice, though.

If a person held a gun up to the head of a beloved family member, is the same true?

The family member has the same choice. Or are you asking if I would kill the family member to save my own skin? For that, the answer is 'no'.

If a person held up a gun to some random child's head, is the same true?

The child has a choice, but fear would probably take over the child's psyche. Children also have a tenancy to listen to authority (especially if said authority is a man holding a 9mm). So while the kid does have a choice, their decision would be most likely controlled by fear.

What if all you had to do was jump on one foot?

Yes

What if all you had to do was kill some third person?

Yes you have a choice here, but I would rather the gunman kill me instead.

So many people consider these things as lacking choice. Such as if someone would kill your family unless you stole went and stole some vehicle, many here would say the person who stole the vehicle shouldn't be charged with the crime, yet did he not choose to steal it? What about if it was hunger holding up a 'gun' to his families head, and if he didn't steal and sell the vehicle, his family would have died from lack of food? What if hunger is holding the gun up to the head of a random child?

These are all very difficult situations, but I would say that the man who did the stealing should not be charged, since he was only doing what was necessary to save his family. He was being pressured by an outside, psychotic influence (the guy with the gun), and did what he had to do in order to protect his loved ones.

Final question... should someone who steals food because they need to eat be charged with a crime?

Personally, if someone stole food from me because they were poor and hungry, I probably wouldn't care. Heck, I'd GIVE them food if I could... I live in the city, so I see enough starving homeless people as it is. =(

But as far as stealing food out of hunger and getting caught by the police... Yes, the person should be charged, if the issue is dealt with legally. We couldn't let every hungry beggar get away with theft, but we can offer them charity when we see them (food, money, etc), so that we can dissuade them from stealing.

 

[quatona]

I don´t see any meaningful use of the term "having choice" except as a synonym for "perceiving more than one option".
That said:

If a person held a gun up to your head and told you to do X or he would kill you, do you have a choice of what to do?

Yes.

If a person held a gun up to the head of a beloved family member, is the same true?

Yes.

If a person held up a gun to some random child's head, is the same true?

Yes.

What if all you had to do was jump on one foot?
What if all you had to do was kill some third person?

Yes.

So many people consider these things as lacking choice. Such as if someone would kill your family unless you stole went and stole some vehicle, many here would say the person who stole the vehicle shouldn't be charged with the crime, yet did he not choose to steal it? What about if it was hunger holding up a 'gun' to his families head, and if he didn't steal and sell the vehicle, his family would have died from lack of food? What if hunger is holding the gun up to the head of a random child?


Final question... should someone who steals food because they need to eat be charged with a crime?

Oh, your post suddenly took an unexpected turn towards potential moral or ethical implications.