The Inquiring Murderer

[morningstar2651]

A friend of yours is being chased by a murderer. She comes to your door and tells you about this situation, then proceeds to hide. You know where she hides. A little while later, the murderer comes to your door and asks you where she is. What should you do?

 

[Mirelys]

Feeling Kantian today?
According to Kantian ethics, you have to tell the murderer where your friend is, because lying is wrong. However, Kant's ethical system needs a little work...
I wouldn't tell the murderer where my friend is, of course. Human life is more important than honesty. I guess this is a situation where utilitarianism would work.

 

[corvus_corax]

A friend of yours is being chased by a murderer. She comes to your door and tells you about this situation, then proceeds to hide. You know where she hides. A little while later, the murderer comes to your door and asks you where she is. What should you do?

Pull out my gun (which I would be wearing by that point), point it at his head and report the trespass to 911 (which would already be on my line by that point)
If necessary (due to the actions of the murderer), shoot.

 

[corvus_corax]

Pull out my gun (which I would be wearing by that point), point it at his head and report the trespass to 911 (which would already be on my line by that point)
If necessary (due to the actions of the murderer), shoot.

EDIT-

Feeling Kantian today?
According to Kantian ethics, you have to tell the murderer where your friend is, because lying is wrong.

I just overcame Kant. "Just a moment" would be a completely honest response while my gun is pointed and the police are on their way

 

[Martinez]

A friend of yours is being chased by a murderer. She comes to your door and tells you about this situation, then proceeds to hide. You know where she hides. A little while later, the murderer comes to your door and asks you where she is. What should you do?

I'm afraid I would have to tell the muderer where my friend was.

Liars have their part in the lake of fire, that burns forever and ever!

 

[Mirelys]

I'm afraid I would have to tell the muderer where my friend was.

Liars have their part in the lake of fire, that burns forever and ever!

And in God's eyes that would make you an accessory to murder...

 

[shinbits]

A friend of yours is being chased by a murderer. She comes to your door and tells you about this situation, then proceeds to hide. You know where she hides. A little while later, the murderer comes to your door and asks you where she is. What should you do?

1) Why would you even open the door if your friend told you a murderer is coming

What do you do? Call the cops as soon as she tells you that the murderer is coming.

2) But what if she tells you all this while you're outside, and the murderer wants to know?

Don't tell 'em.

"But he'll kill you if you say that."

In that case, say you don't know, and ask for forgiveness later.

 

[corvus_corax]

I'm afraid I would have to tell the muderer where my friend was.

Liars have their part in the lake of fire, that burns forever and ever!

You are FAR too black and white.
There are other options

I hope that you can see past your personal interpretive theology to recognize this

EDIT- It seems strange to me that a Christian would willingly (and with forethought) consign a friend to death. It seems strange that a Christian would put their state above the state of another.
Agape indeed

 

[Spinrad]

A friend of yours is being chased by a murderer. She comes to your door and tells you about this situation, then proceeds to hide. You know where she hides. A little while later, the murderer comes to your door and asks you where she is. What should you do?

How do I know it's a murderer?

 

[Martinez]

How do I know it's a murderer?

It's a hyperthetical question!

you just know.

 

[Spinrad]

It's a hyperthetical question!

you just know.

The cops are waiting, then.

OK, let's take it at face value. I kill him. Or beat him into submission. Or try. Do you think I am going to sit and have polite conversation with someone who is about to commit murder?

 

[Martinez]

The cops are waiting, then.

OK, let's take it at face value. I kill him. Or beat him into submission. Or try. Do you think I am going to sit and have polite conversation with someone who is about to commit murder?

all those who practice violence or murder shall have their part in the lake of fire that burns forever and ever!

 

[Spinrad]

all those who practice violence or murder shall have their part in the lake of fire that burns forever and ever!

There is no God, but if I burn for taking the life of a life taker then I do. At least I saved an innocent on the way down.

 

[Martinez]

There is no God, but if I burn for taking the life of a life taker then I do. At least I saved an innocent on the way down.

Sorry man I was only joking!

seriously!

 

[SallyNow]

A friend of yours is being chased by a murderer. She comes to your door and tells you about this situation, then proceeds to hide. You know where she hides. A little while later, the murderer comes to your door and asks you where she is. What should you do?

Well, I probably already have called 911 and/or hightailed it out of there. Or I may have called my good friends Jessica Fletcher, Columbo, Ms Marple and Poirot, who never let any harm come to their friends. (Hey, it's a hypothetical, right?)

There are several answer to this that aren't lying, but also not being helpful, either, which include: "My friend is on Earth", "My friend is in this universe", "My cat's name is Fluffy", etc.

There is also out-and-out lying, saying "I do not know where my friend is". Lying is forgivable; knowing that you allowed someone to murder your friend is something that will haunt you until you die.

 

[MERCY@GRACE]

I'd lead the murderer to her and then run.

Of course I'm teasing

Op, how could you judge the person who said she/he would tell where the friend was. Remember Peter? Need I say more?
We can sit here till the cows come home and give the 'perfect' most appealing answer, but fact is,when you're in that situation.... emotion and fear take over and logic gets thrown out of the window.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

As soon as my friend arrives at the door I call the police, who would then have come to house by the time the murderer arrives. Simple.If--for some strange reason--that is not an option, then I would try to restrain the murderer. That would most probably fail so I would lie and say that I had no idea whatsoever where my friend was. Though I am a fan of Kantian ethics, I can see how ridiculous it would be to tell the murderer where his potential victim was.

 

[morningstar2651]

In that case, say you don't know, and ask for forgiveness later.

But isn't it silly to ask for forgiveness if you don't regret your actions?

 

[morningstar2651]

A friend of yours is being chased by a murderer. She comes to your door and tells you about this situation, then proceeds to hide. You know where she hides. A little while later, the murderer comes to your door and asks you where she is. What should you do?

I would either knock the murderer unconcious or lose my life in the attempt. Either way, the murderer can't find my friend.

And no, that doesn't violate my ethics (unless I botch my attempt and die). "An it harm none, do what you will" is an over-simplified version of the Wiccan Rede.

". . .'Do what you like so long as you harm no one.' But [Wicans] believe a certain law to be important, 'You must not use magic for anything which will cause harm to anyone, and if, to prevent a greater wrong being done, you must discommode someone, you must do it only in a way which will abate the harm'." - Gerald Gardner, The Meaning of Witchcraft (Emphasis mine)
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[Helo]

Id point to a place where my friend wasnt and when his back was turned, jump on his back and break his neck