• Hacksaw
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    8 months ago

    That’s the “golden rule”. Do onto others as you would have them do to you. You’re arguing against the bronze rule which is an eye for an eye, which is an excellent point.

    Mathematical modeling has shown that the most just societies operate on the gold plated bronze rule. The idea here is that you initially treat people according to the golden rule, however after repeated abuse wears out the plating you transition to the bronze rule. This ensures human decency while protecting against agents acting in bad faith trying to profit by destroying society and repeatedly abusing the golden rule.

    In this case you leave them in the fire, not because they would do it to you, but because they have burned and continue to burn so many people that every second they’re alive they cause a tremendous damage to society.

    • WR5@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      That makes sense. Keeping them alive would do more net damage than saving them, in terms of human lives.