Scenario:
"First world scientists have been monitoring a ancient tribe of indigenous people whom have had no contact with the world outside their isolated lifestyles upon a platue. The only access to the plateau is by heliocopter and leaving the plateau is deemed by local superstition as a trip to hell.
The tribe is unaware they are being studied and have no suspicion of being monitored by outsiders. In fact they have no concept of "outsider" in their culture. Nor are they aware of the satelites that pass over head and aid in the research that the scientists are doing. They are however culturally mature and demonstrating an ability in mathematics and natural sciences. Sophisticated agriculture and legal systems.
A volcanic eruption has recently wiped out their agriculture and they are starting to loose members of their tribe to starvation. It appears that their tribe is doomed as further eruptions suggest that the entirre plataeu is about to explode."
****
The scientists face a dilemma. Should they reveal themselves and evacuate the plateau or should they just leave, and not assist the remaining members of the tribe in avoiding what appears to be certain death.
The scientists have the means to assist and the question is should they?
Of course this scenario is making reference to the Trekian [sci fi] principle called the Prime Directive.
Questions come up such as :
Is it ethical to monitor a society with out their conscent or knowledge?
Is it morally acceptable to allow them to live or die as their circumstances dictate?
Is it ethical to refrain from assistance when needed?
It also raises the possibility that we as a race may also be the target of a "prime directive". Are we possibly being monitored by some technological superiior alien race.....etc...
Is the Prime Directive an example of sophisticated morality or is it a form of elitist BS....?
If we can take both perspectives can we see the value or non value in this Directive.
Care to discuss?
"First world scientists have been monitoring a ancient tribe of indigenous people whom have had no contact with the world outside their isolated lifestyles upon a platue. The only access to the plateau is by heliocopter and leaving the plateau is deemed by local superstition as a trip to hell.
The tribe is unaware they are being studied and have no suspicion of being monitored by outsiders. In fact they have no concept of "outsider" in their culture. Nor are they aware of the satelites that pass over head and aid in the research that the scientists are doing. They are however culturally mature and demonstrating an ability in mathematics and natural sciences. Sophisticated agriculture and legal systems.
A volcanic eruption has recently wiped out their agriculture and they are starting to loose members of their tribe to starvation. It appears that their tribe is doomed as further eruptions suggest that the entirre plataeu is about to explode."
****
The scientists face a dilemma. Should they reveal themselves and evacuate the plateau or should they just leave, and not assist the remaining members of the tribe in avoiding what appears to be certain death.
The scientists have the means to assist and the question is should they?
Of course this scenario is making reference to the Trekian [sci fi] principle called the Prime Directive.
Questions come up such as :
Is it ethical to monitor a society with out their conscent or knowledge?
Is it morally acceptable to allow them to live or die as their circumstances dictate?
Is it ethical to refrain from assistance when needed?
It also raises the possibility that we as a race may also be the target of a "prime directive". Are we possibly being monitored by some technological superiior alien race.....etc...
Is the Prime Directive an example of sophisticated morality or is it a form of elitist BS....?
If we can take both perspectives can we see the value or non value in this Directive.
Care to discuss?