A "life-challenged" person, call him, is walking straight toward a tall cliff, see ..

[Lummy]

What if I make conscious decision to NOT warn the man because I've determined that we are better off if he dies.

Well then ... DING! DING! DING! ...

I think we have a winner!

[Dr. Who]

You know he isn't aware of the mortal danger and can't see it. There is no posted warning about it whatsoever, and you know darn well he will certainly step off to his death.

If you remain silent and do not warn him and he does step off and fall to his death, have you done anything wrong? Is there a legal issue? A moral issue? A religious issue?

Is there any issue at all outside, perhaps, your own conscience?

It depends where you live. In some places, not giving warning when you recognize a peril is illegal. In any event, allowing someone to step to their death unknowingly when you might give warning is a moral failing. Additionally, unless that person is trying kill you or someone else, you have no moral excuse for not warning them of the peril. It is not up to any individual to determine that someone else should die.

[Peter1469]

It depends where you live. In some places, not giving warning when you recognize a peril is illegal. In any event, allowing someone to step to their death unknowingly when you might give warning is a moral failing. Additionally, unless that person is trying kill you or someone else, you have no moral excuse for not warning them of the peril. It is not up to any individual to determine that someone else should die.

Which jurisdictions require a warning?

Reminds me of the last episode of Seinfeld.

[Dr. Who]

Which jurisdictions require a warning?

Reminds me of the last episode of Seinfeld.

If you research this topic around the world, in many places, including Russia it is a crime to ignore the peril of another unless it requires putting your own life at risk.

[spunkloaf]

You know he isn't aware of the mortal danger and can't see it. There is no posted warning about it whatsoever, and you know darn well he will certainly step off to his death.

If you remain silent and do not warn him and he does step off and fall to his death, have you done anything wrong? Is there a legal issue? A moral issue? A religious issue?

Is there any issue at all outside, perhaps, your own conscience?

I think it's a pretty clear cut moral case. You need to save the person, whether by warning them, or by physically intervening.

Think of what happens if you do nothing. Play this tape through. You live the rest of your life knowing that you let someone die. It affects your conscience whether you "let it" or not. Either you will be eaten by guilt, or you will have a lessened appreciation for life, since you've already seen one guy die and didn't do anything to stop it.

Essentially by doing nothing, one is playing games with mortality. It's like playing "God." To me, that is no different than tying a person up and torturing them just to "see what happens."

There is definitely a moral obligation to prevent the person's death, even if you think they are the worst person on the planet.

[spunkloaf]

"Wrong" is relative as well as individually determined.

Definitely not a legal issue.

You either selflessly care for strangers, or you don't.

I would feel bad if I didn't at least try to intervene, but I wouldn't put that same obligation on someone else.

I would.

If I *almost* walk obliviously into my death, and then I noticed somebody was watching me the whole time and waiting to see what would happen, I'd be pretty $#@!ing pissed.

[Peter1469]

If you research this topic around the world, in many places, including Russia it is a crime to ignore the peril of another unless it requires putting your own life at risk.

Sorry, I was thinking only about the US.

[ODB]

I would.

If I *almost* walk obliviously into my death, and then I noticed somebody was watching me the whole time and waiting to see what would happen, I'd be pretty $#@!ing pissed.

Test that.

You might be surprised at how many times you'll get the opportunity to "be pissed".

[spunkloaf]

Test that.

You might be surprised at how many times you'll get the opportunity to "be pissed".

Oh, ZING!

[Common Sense]

I don't understand the lack of morality one would need to possess to not warn someone who was in danger.