Deep Spirits

Here is a moral dilemma based on an actual case from 1842...

A ship struck an iceberg and more than 30 survivors were crowded into a lifeboat intended to hold 7. As the rain and the waves worsened it became obvious to the captain that the lifeboat would have to be lightened if anyone were to survive. The captain and other seaman threw 14 men and two women overboard. They chose single men only (the married ones were spared) and the 2 women requested to go overboard because one of the 14 men was their brother. None of the crew was thrown out.

The captain reasoned that the right thing to do in this situation was to sacrifice some people in order to keep the lifeboat from capsizing. He reasoned that if he hadn't done anything, then everyone would anyway die.
If he did throw people overboard, then those that remained had a chance of survival, were his thoughts.

The survivors were rescued the following day and the captain was tried for his action.

Questions:
- If you had been on the jury, how would you have judged the captain's actions?
- What would have been your decision in his place?

Sabina