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William Brown lifeboat Case

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I need to answer the following questions about the case.
1) Did the captain make the right decision? why or why not?
2) What other choices could the captain have made?
3) If you had been on the jury how would you have decided? why?
4)Which ethical theory or theories could be applied here?

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Solution Summary

This posting gives you a step-by-step explanation of overcrowded lifeboat case in 1842. The response also contains the sources used.

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In accordance with BrainMass standards this is not a hand in ready assignment but is only background help.

Step 1
The captain made the right decision. From the deontological ethical perspective it was the duty of the captain to ensure that the maximum number of people survived. For this he felt that the right thing to do was to force some individuals to go over the side and drown. This incident occurred in 1842 when a ship struck an iceberg and more than 30 survivors were crowded into a lifeboat that was meant to hold 7 people. The captain felt that the lifeboat would have to be lightened if anyone were to survive. He decided that the weakest would have to be sacrificed. Since greater rowing was required for rescue, the captain decided to sacrifice the weakest.

Step 2
The other choice the captain could have ...

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