You're the judge

In Europe, a woman was near death from a particular kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but . the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow money, but he could only get together about $1,000, which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying, and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said, 'No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it.' So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife.

a Should Heinz have done that? Was it actually wrong or right? Why?

b Is it a husband's duty to steal the drug for his wife, if he can get it no other way? Would a good husband do it?

e Did the druggist have the right to charge so much when there was no law setting a limit on the price? Why?

d If the husband does not feel very close or affectionate to his wife, should he still steal the drug?

e Suppose it wasn't Heinz's wife who was dying of cancer, but it was Heinz's best friend. His friend didn't have any money, and there was no-one in his family willing to steal the drug. Should Heinz steal the drug for his friend? Why?

f Suppose it was a person whom he knew that was dying but who was not a good friend. There was no-one e se who could get him the drug. Would it be right to steal it for him? Why?

g What is there to be said on the side of the law in this case?

h Would you steal the drug to save your wife's life? Why?

i If you were dying of cancer but were strong enough, would you steal the drug to save your own life?

j Heinz broke into the store and stole the drug and gave it to his wife. He was caught and brought before the judge. Should the judge send Heinz to jail for stealing, or should he let him go free? Why?

4. Research

Without scientific progress the national health would deteriorate; without scientific progress we could no longer hope for improvement in our standard of living or for an increased number of jobs for our citizens; and without scientific progress we could not have maintained our liberties against tyranny.

(V. Bush, U.S. presidential science adviser)

1. A group of marine archaeologists have found Atlantis.

2. A group of genetic engineers have developed a way to produce square fruit.

3. A group of metallurgists and alchemists claim that they can convert the Grand Canyon into gold.

4. These computer scientists have developed a system for people to learn anything without having to study.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1970