Assignment #3

[Lilith]

Here is the next assignment I have in philosophy....could make for interesting conversation



For this assignment you are asked to make hard choices. A catastrophic event has occured and you alone have access to a life support environment (self-contained biosphere) that will enable human life to continue. There are ten (10) people with you, however, due to the restrictions of your artifical environment you can only save a maximum of 6 people including yourself. The catastrophic event will only have affects for up to 5 months, but anything not in your artifical environment will die within days. After 5 months the earth's environment will be safe and the six people will be able to venture out again and re-start the human race (by the way, assume that all ten of the people are the same race and religion as you). Which 6 will you save?

1. You (your current age and occupation)
2. Bookkeeper, 31 years-old, male
3. Bookkeepers wife, 30 years-old, 3 months pregnant, no other children.
4. Second-year medical student, 26, single male
5. Famous historian/author, 49, divorced female, mother of 2
6. Hollywood star, 27, divorced female, no children
7. Biochemist, 39, married male, father of 4
8. Farmer (former mechanic), 57, widowed male, father of 3.
9. Olympic Athlete, 22, single female
10. Police Officer, 35, divorced male, father of 2
11. 7-year-old daughter of police officer.

So now make your choices and justify who you are choosing and not choosing. Did you choose yourself? Why or why not? Then examine your own rational for your choices. What is it based on? What is your goal? Can you live with the ramifications of your choices? Who is the most valuable member of the group?



What do you think?????

[Casperr]

1. Me. Cos I'm ME of course!!!! Who's the one with this life support system, eh?? That's right, ME! Everyone else comes second. :D
Seriously tho - I would expect to be part of the team because I'm selfish, and too young to die!

2. Bookkeeper's wife. Sorry to her man, but she's got a bub that's gonna be second generation Survivor.

3. Second year med student. I would've prefered a doctor with 20 years experience working in poverty stricken countries without advanced medical equipment, but hey you get what you grab. The student's medical knowledge would be invaluable for delivery of the baby as well as general health and wellbeing of the survivors.

4. Farmer. Someone's gotta plant the crops and grow the food and milk the cows. And as a former mechanic, he can get tractors and cars and busses and spaceships and everything working for us.

5. Olympic Athlete. She's 27, got a great body and a toned, hardened physical specimen. The sorta thing you'd want future generations to be made from. And there would be future generations, cos I'd be screwing her senseless every night. :D

6. The Policeman's daughter. She's the future, just like the bub in the bookkeeper's wife.

I wouldn't take the biochemist, that's for sure - who d'you think probably got us into this mess in the first place? And I'd shoot the Hollywood star, just to guarantee the world was a better place. :)

Who's most important? Me, of course - it's my bloody life support environment! lol! :)
Eeep, who knows! it's a team effort, survival. I mean, I'm tempted to say the farmer - but if everyone else dies he can live for a while and then he's got nobody else to continue the species with. if I say the preggers bookkeeper wife, who's gonna farm the land for her? Who's gonna look after her when she gets sick?

So I think it's pretty obvious:
Pray I'm not the last man on Earth! LOL :)

CasperTG

[fzzy]

Bookkeeper's wife (she's fertile and 2 for 1 package deal)

Med Student .... need someone to cure ills, etc. when the group can get out of the life support system.

Historian/author --- if you don't learn from history, then there is a problem.

Farmer/mechanic ... need someone to make things work for the group and to be able to provide ongoing food source.

Child and police officer (father) - couldn't take her father away, and he's likely to be able to provide braun when needed and hopefully will help the group function in times of crisis.

future matchups provide for police office and bookkeeper's wife, farmer and historian and med student and child (I know it's a long wait, but if you only have 6 people, then you do the best you can)

Wouldn't save myself, couldn't do it knowing someone else would die because of me, and for me, death is just the next step in the process of life ... not that I'm trying to rush there, just don't really have much fear about it. But hope they live to honor my memory and not curse it!!!!

I'm not sure I could say one member is most valuable ... with only 6 people surviving .... the team concept is what will save them I think.

[Irish]

You didn't include the MOST important part!Are any of them pixies
members?As a PROPER moderator,that should determine the
decisions! Irish

[gekkogecko]

I remember that assignment, although I was only allowed three people (incl myself). How come you get 6?

-gekkogecko

[Lilith]

just lucky I guess!

[Irish]

Lilith---Just think,with the right choices,you could moderate
the whole world.Now,you have to decide,if you will be a
dictator or not! Irish

[Lilith]

I would not include myself......:o so it would be a non-issue! I am not sure who I would pick though. Weighing out some ideas first.

[Loulabelle]

I think I should explain my rationale first. With no other 'civilisation' in existence, the primary needs are to be fed and to reproduce, for the survival of the species.

I'd have the bookeeper and his wife (as they are expecting and are most likely to go on and produce more - we know they're both fertile!)

Then the biochemist. His knowledge and skill may be useful (more useful than a second year medic with no one to complete his training) and he too appears to be fertile.

The Farmer is a neccesity both inside and outside our environment as he has practical skills which will be absolutely essential for survival. He will be able to teach the others about growing food etc.

The olympic athlete as I feel strongly that the balance of men and women should be equal and she is the most physically fit and still of child bearing age. The actress and author were perhaps highly regarded in 'this world' but may not be able to contribute as much as her.

And me. Again because I'm female, of child bearing age (unlike divorced historian) and probably have more useful skills than the actress. Plus my background in education may be of use in educating the next generation.

The policeman and his daughter did not figure into it as the other men available can be of more use (we have a manual worker, an administrator and an academic) and the law he upholds no longer exists. His daughter would not be a good choice as it's just plain cruel to take her and not her father. Plus she would not be of much practical use.

I know that makes me cruel and heartless but there ya go! Just trying to be practical.

As for who is the most valuable member of the group: I have attempted to build a team. No-one would be valuable without the other. It's an impossible and immoral question to answer. We are all equally important and including those people who have not been selected.

Incidentally, once inside the biosphere, I'd recruit the biochemist and farmer/mechanic to put their heads together to try to see if there was any way of moderating the sphere to contain more people.

[Oldfart]

Me.

The Book-keeper's wife, for a guaranteed start of the second generation.

Med student, for genetic vigour and basic medical.

The farmer, because he'll be the one feeding us.

The Olympic athelete 'cos we need her breeding and muscles

The little girl 'cos we need her ovaries to avoid inbreeding too.

[PantyFanatic]

Perhaps this thread hid from me yesterday for a good reason. Another new thread irritated me so much that I’m still in a very objective mood and have no problem eliminating people.
Going with your scenario and assuming the specie is worth doing over, (outside chance it can be better) you get right to the very basics of survival and propagation. I started with what we need the least and the review of what was left worked out pretty well for what we do need presuming they are in good health.


There will be little enough to keep track of and there is no room for an elite with a convoluted, contrived system to feed the parasites.
Book keeper- GONE!

IIC (second chance) will begin a new epoch with the opportunity to record information accurately and the existing records will be there. Plus the bearing capabilities are pasted.
Historian/author- GONE!

No explaination necessary.
Hollywood star- GONE!

If security within this small group is a problem, there is no need to do it over.
Police Officer- GONE!

I can keep the above group busy for a couple days telling them comforting religious stories so the other can get a start.
Me- GONE!


The group left seemed to have the best balance of sustaining values. If they work hard and don’t make too many mistakes, it might start over.

Bookkeepers wife- Providing a head start and gene diversity with the capability to do it again (quickly).

Second-year medical student- The health requirements of the tribe is obvious, so along with the strong back of this obstetrician (no electives), his place is secure.

Biochemist- His parenting experience, and a decade of physical contributions along with the safety assurances and ability to find needed information in the ruins make him a qualified breeder.

Farmer* (former mechanic*)- For the first three growing seasons this pivotal person will determine if there is a future. Having the infrastructure there will GREATLY accelerate advancement. The tribe will sit at his feet for his remaining time and just have to figure out how to use it.

Olympic Athlete- Health, youth and hopefully the ability to learn makes her breeding stock.

7-year-old daughter- Clean drawing board and HOPE.

[Lilith]

Am I the only one who is worried about the athletes ability to procreate.... athletes and women who are involved in sports to the extent the one in this scenario are often suffer from lack of menstrual cycles and fertility issues... just a thought

[Irish]

Lilith---You forgot that she wears pantys.In that case,she
meets PFs,criteria! Irish

[PantyFanatic]

Just looking over the responses. The single unified consensus seems to be that the ladies be a framers wife and stay pregnant when it gets down to basics.:eek:

*ducks flying coffee cups & beer bottles*

heah! I only contributed 20% of the opinions and 40% was from the ladies.


This could make you redefine “superficial” the next time you have to reach DEEP into your pocket to pay an entertainer.:rolleyes:




Now that we’ve done your homework for you Lilith, tell us your thoughts.:)

[Lilith]

1& 2) bookekeeper and wife....breeeding pair

3) farmer~ chow/sperm

4) biochemist~ scientists tend to know lots about lots, has 4 kids...I think his sperm is valuable too

5) actress~ because I think the athlete could have dysmenorhea (sp) due to lack of body fat and years of training

6) daughter~ will be breedable in 7 years....first post biosphere generation lies within her womb.


I have to say I warble between taking back the farmer or biochemist and replacing one with the athlete. We need wombs. But gotta keep the people attached to them alive so I am sticking with the above choices.

I am not included because I am unable to have more kids. Procreation of the species is my main concern.

[MilkToast]

Who lives:
Bookkeepers wife, 30 years-old, 3 months pregnant, no other children. - We know that she is fertile and as that is need number one to bring back the species this is a must. Plus, if everything goes OK there is still a month left before the birth of the child. So you get two people "for the price of one"

Second-year medical student, 26, single male - young male that can procreate (we hope). Also a very valuable asset as he will be important in the keeping of the species healthy and the children being born.

7-year-old daughter of police officer - hopefully she will be fertile and be able to contribute to the gene pool when the time comes. Additionally she is young and will have the best chance to have multiple offspring. Of course it will be a while before she can have kids, but two of the males in the group should still be more than capable of fathering a child when she is ready.

Farmer (former mechanic), 57, widowed male, father of 3. - he will provide critical knowledge to the group and will be esential to the survival of the group when they get out of the biosphere. He is bordering on too old, but should be able to have kids for a while more. Additionally, his knowledge is what is needed the most.

Me, 30, engineer, single, no kids, in good health - I have a strong ability to learn that which is mechanical and as such will provide a good learner to carry on and assist the farmer in his duties. The problem solving skills of an engineer should also come in helpful during the rebuild. Hopefully I am fertile.

Olympic Athlete, 22, single female - the last selection I made, she was a toss up with the cop. She gets to live as we need to be able to have a diverse gene pool. She makes the split 50/50 men/female. Additionally, she is young and hopefully in good health. As an olympic athlete she may have screwed up her hormones but hopefully with proper diet and reduced exercise her hormone levels would return to "normal".


Who dies:
Bookkeeper, 31 years-old, male - Sorry. Does not get to go. Although we know that he is fertile, his genes are already being put into the pool by the birth of his child in 6 months. So he is not an asset from that pespective. Sadly his profession will also not be needed for quite a while.

Famous historian/author, 49, divorced female, mother of 2 - although history is important to learning, the primary cause is the species in this case. She is past contributing to the gene pool. Harsh, yes.

Hollywood star, 27, divorced female, no children - no kids, that might be an issue. Plus she does not provide a critical function.

Biochemist, 39, married male, father of 4 - while fertile, he is bordering on too old.


Police Officer, 35, divorced male, father of 2 - this was a toss up with the athlete... the reason he gets to stay is that there is more need for wombs than for brawn. Hopefully the athlete, whom is youger, is fertile.

Goal/value
There is no most valuable of the chosen group, they are all required for this to work. The goal here is to re-populate the planet and to do that we need to have kids and be able to care for ourselves.

[Lilith]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MilkToast





[b]Who dies:
Bookkeeper, 31 years-old, male - Sorry. Does not get to go. Although we know that he is fertile, his genes are already being put into the pool by the birth of his child in 6 months. So he is not an asset from that pespective.

[QUOTE]


Very very good point... I had not at all considered the fact that we don't want to make siblings!!!!! TY TY!!!!

[FussyPucker]

I had a little thought about this one and I'm not going to go into who to save and who to get rid of......what I am going to suggest is that the men that are going to be sent out of the place should be "used" before they go......they should attempt to impregnate the fertile women. This would give more variety in the gene pool, of course there's always the chance the women wont get preggers but it's still worth a try !!!

Lilith I'd suggest trying to see a StarTrek The Next Generation episode called "up the long ladder" err I think....... it's based on a similar idea to this.....there are two groups of people one of of which is going to die out since it gave up reproducing in the normal way adopting the use of cloning instead....anyway just a thought..

btw Lou says......the Athlete might be a better choice than the actress since we're never too sure how the actress has been treating her body.........drugs, boooze, dodgy diets etc... she could be well fecked up.............making assuptions of course but we have to !...........these weren't lou's exact words it's my translation of what she said :D

[BigBear57]

1. You (your current age and occupation)
2. Bookkeeper, 31 years-old, male
3. Bookkeepers wife, 30 years-old, 3 months pregnant, no other children.
4. Second-year medical student, 26, single male
5. Famous historian/author, 49, divorced female, mother of 2
6. Hollywood star, 27, divorced female, no children
7. Biochemist, 39, married male, father of 4
8. Farmer (former mechanic), 57, widowed male, father of 3.
9. Olympic Athlete, 22, single female
10. Police Officer, 35, divorced male, father of 2
11. 7-year-old daughter of police officer.


2. Bookkeeper, 31 years-old, male
3. Bookkeepers wife, 30 years-old, 3 months pregnant, no other children.
4. Second-year medical student, 26, single male
6. Hollywood star, 27, divorced female, no children
7. Biochemist, 39, married male, father of 4
9. Olympic Athlete, 22, single female

3 possible breeding pairs with varied educational backgrounds. One seed already in place to be delivered a month out of the sphere.
As for me, my kids weren't on the list so why would I care to go?

[Oldfart]

How much testing can we do first?

As the external environment is a clean slate, how many

consumables are we allowed for fun and feasting?

Has the biochemist stuffed his DNA through exposure to exotic chemicals?

Is the book-keeper the father of the child?

The presumption of only 3 breeding combinations is morally driven.

If a stock of in-vitro children is available, the hurdle of siblings is
irrelevant.

[Irish]

I think that we should ask the"Celebrities".They seem to know
everything,about everything.We could do as the T-shirt says
and:"Kill them all!Let God sort them out!" Irish
P.S.Lilith.You,probably,wouldn't get a good mark,with the last
one!

[Casperr]

Lilith- as for elite athletes being infertile - not likely. Exercise can only interfere with menstrual cycles when it is sustained and excessively intense exercise. Even then, it is usually only temporary, and once the athlete reduces the volume and/or intensity of her training her cycles should return as per normal.

The only cases that I'm aware of where elite athletes became sterile or infertile was with the East German swimming team, where there were reports of miscarriages, infertility, sterility etc among the athletes on dangerous doses of banned steroids.

Just my thoughts - and whilst I am a swimming coach, I'm not gonna put a guarantee of absolute gospel on this :)

CasperTG

[airhog]

I would take 3 of the fetile women, and the farmer and medical student. And the police officer. 3 women and 3 men gives you a total of 9 different pairings, and 9 different offspring. 4 women and two men would only give you 8 different offspring. I picked the men and women solely on their breeding ability and skills. The police officer was the final male, and was a good choice. Most policemen at that age are in decent physical condition. he is skilled in firearms which would be a plus if we were forced too hunt.



Also if doesnt say if the event would destroy everything non-living. like buildings and cities and such. That might figure a bit differently.

[LixyChick]

Yep! It's my biosphere.........but I'm not going! I know a little about alot of things.......but I am not fertile and I don't have as much to contribute to such a human cause of some of the others.

Here's who lives on...........

Bookeeper's wife..........she is a viable procreator and we get a bonus "already made child" to add to our six for future generation procreation. Don't really care about her bookeeping skills.....but who knows.....it might come in handy.

Second year medical student.......he's youthful in body (for reproduction) and brain (for ongoing learning) and has much needed medical knowledge no matter his two year status.

Hollywood Star.......she's young and we could use her womb. The med. student might take a liking to her....LOL!

Biochemist........Men can reproduce at a late age in life......(look at Charlie Chaplain...I think he was in his 90's when his young wife conceived his last child).......and he's proven he is able to "knock um up" in that he already has children.....plus.....he's smart and would have lots to contribute to the new society.

Farmer (former mechanic)......he has viable sperm and diversified knowledge in farming and machinery. Very important.....as most people have little or no mechanical knowledge and machines are what "it's" all about. The farmer is a no-brainer.........he has so much to contribute. I actually think he is one of the MOST important people to live on.

7 year old daughter of officer..........She'll be ready in about 7 or so more years to help the new generation along in procreation......as far as being able to be impregnated. Never mind the sexual child abuse implications.........the race must go on! The bookeeper's wife could have a son she might take a liking to! Hmmmmm?

And.............BTW Lilith.............it really wouldn't matter to me if my choices were not of my race or religion or whatever. I am concerned with the "human" factor here.........and have never been concerned with all that other bullshit! People are people to me!!!!!!!!!!! Turn us all inside out and we are the same except for our sex!

*NOTE TO ALL SMARTY ASS PANTS OUT THERE* Don't go getting all technical on me as to DNA and shit......you know what I mean by that previous statement!* LOL!



Geezzzzzzzz Lilith...........I think my brain hurts now! Good thing I won't be one of them living on! TeeHee!

[Lilith]

Hey Lixy...that was just what I copy and pasted from the assignment...I too would not consider race or religion in my decision making.

[LixyChick]

*smiles*

So few people.........who cares what they look like or what they believe..........I say........

"Lay down and make me babies!" LMAO!

[Lilith]

Amen Sister Friend!!!!

[LixyChick]

^5 to my sister from a different mister!!!!!!


*great minds.....yada, yada, yada!*