A matter of principles
The oddest question was asked of me today, which had a response that set me thinking. I am a vegetarian, and refuse to eat meat, with the exception of tuna fish on rare occasion, most passionately. After nearly a year without any meat (other than tuna), the thought of meat makes me almost sick, though every once in a while I crave the protein it provides.
This being said, my youngest sister asked me today that if (by the extraordinary possibility) that I survived a plane crash and was put on a desert deserted island, where the only form of food possible was KFC, where all they provided was chicken, would I eat the chicken or die. To which, a friend of mine replied, of course I would eat the chicken because it would be irrational and illogical to do otherwise, which, being added to the absurdity of the question, made it irrelevant.
Yes, part of me, the brooding part, wonders if it is so irrelevant. When it comes right now to it, what was questioned was how firmly I stand beside my principles and beliefs. In any other, non life and death, situation I would automatically say that I would remain vegetarian; however in this one, when my life was on the line, I would pause and pick the most logical option- most likely to eat the meat to survive. That makes me wonder how strong my principles really are.
We all say that "I will stand by this... firmly". Yet when faced with a situation beyond absurd, we, in all likeness, wouldn't. We chose what is best for ourselves and self-preservation.In Socrates Cafe last year, the question was broached of "if aliens invaded earth and demanded Tim or they would destroy the planet, would you give Tim to the aliens?" Several people, myself included, who have strong nonviolence, peace principles said they would give Tim to save their families. And how many of those who are opposed to violence and killing would say no if the only option they were given was to kill a person who was harming someone they loved? Maybe this is a question of one principle being stronger than another, I don't know. But I do know that in situations, which in and of themselves are illogical, we tend to make decisions which are logical, even if they go against our beliefs and principles.
So, perhaps my question is this: is there such a principle, belief, etc to which we would hold firmly to, even if by doing so that was illogical? Or does logic and rationality trump all? Or am I overthinking and writing a nonsensical note which views the world as too black and white?
This being said, my youngest sister asked me today that if (by the extraordinary possibility) that I survived a plane crash and was put on a desert deserted island, where the only form of food possible was KFC, where all they provided was chicken, would I eat the chicken or die. To which, a friend of mine replied, of course I would eat the chicken because it would be irrational and illogical to do otherwise, which, being added to the absurdity of the question, made it irrelevant.
Yes, part of me, the brooding part, wonders if it is so irrelevant. When it comes right now to it, what was questioned was how firmly I stand beside my principles and beliefs. In any other, non life and death, situation I would automatically say that I would remain vegetarian; however in this one, when my life was on the line, I would pause and pick the most logical option- most likely to eat the meat to survive. That makes me wonder how strong my principles really are.
We all say that "I will stand by this... firmly". Yet when faced with a situation beyond absurd, we, in all likeness, wouldn't. We chose what is best for ourselves and self-preservation.In Socrates Cafe last year, the question was broached of "if aliens invaded earth and demanded Tim or they would destroy the planet, would you give Tim to the aliens?" Several people, myself included, who have strong nonviolence, peace principles said they would give Tim to save their families. And how many of those who are opposed to violence and killing would say no if the only option they were given was to kill a person who was harming someone they loved? Maybe this is a question of one principle being stronger than another, I don't know. But I do know that in situations, which in and of themselves are illogical, we tend to make decisions which are logical, even if they go against our beliefs and principles.
So, perhaps my question is this: is there such a principle, belief, etc to which we would hold firmly to, even if by doing so that was illogical? Or does logic and rationality trump all? Or am I overthinking and writing a nonsensical note which views the world as too black and white?