The Parable of the Sadhu
Running head: THE PARABLE OF THE SADHU
The greatest good
Eva I England
University of Saint Francis
The greatest good
The Parable of the Sadhu a true story that captures the ethical and moral decisions faced by several group of hikers as they find a Sadhu naked and close to death up in the Himalayan Mountains. The hikers consisted of goal obsessed Americans, New Zealanders, Swiss, Japanese, Porters and Sherpas all trying to reach the top of the Himalayan Mountains of 18,000 feet. The Sadhu was discovered by the New Zealanders on their ascent to the top of the mountain. They responded to their moral obligation by assisting the Sadhu, but quickly they abandoned their moral obligations to pursue their self-interest. What is unclear is why was the Sadhu there and was it his self-interest that had him at the top of the mountain also. He made the decision to ascend the mountain on his own free will, therefore he his ultimately responsible for his wellbeing and safety. The New Zealander had a moral obligation to get the Sadhu to safety and they did in their eyes when they left the Sadhu with the Americans and their Sherpa’s and porter’s. The Americans along with the Swiss helped the Sadhu by providing him clothing and warmth. This act was a showing of kindness and the innate responsibility to help their fellow man but they also had their self-interest in mind. They also had a moral obligation to get the Sadhu to safety for the greatest good, but they choose to leave the Sadhu with one of the Americans Stephanie. Stephanie felt ethically responsible for the Sadhu. He ordered that the Sherpa’s take him further down to safety near the Japanese base camp. The Japanese hikers provided the Sadhu with food and drink. Providing the Sadhu with food, drink, clothing, and warmth were all that the group felt they could give without obstructing their self-interest in reaching the top of the peak.
The climbers would not have acted differently if this were a
The greatest good
Eva I England
University of Saint Francis
The greatest good
The Parable of the Sadhu a true story that captures the ethical and moral decisions faced by several group of hikers as they find a Sadhu naked and close to death up in the Himalayan Mountains. The hikers consisted of goal obsessed Americans, New Zealanders, Swiss, Japanese, Porters and Sherpas all trying to reach the top of the Himalayan Mountains of 18,000 feet. The Sadhu was discovered by the New Zealanders on their ascent to the top of the mountain. They responded to their moral obligation by assisting the Sadhu, but quickly they abandoned their moral obligations to pursue their self-interest. What is unclear is why was the Sadhu there and was it his self-interest that had him at the top of the mountain also. He made the decision to ascend the mountain on his own free will, therefore he his ultimately responsible for his wellbeing and safety. The New Zealander had a moral obligation to get the Sadhu to safety and they did in their eyes when they left the Sadhu with the Americans and their Sherpa’s and porter’s. The Americans along with the Swiss helped the Sadhu by providing him clothing and warmth. This act was a showing of kindness and the innate responsibility to help their fellow man but they also had their self-interest in mind. They also had a moral obligation to get the Sadhu to safety for the greatest good, but they choose to leave the Sadhu with one of the Americans Stephanie. Stephanie felt ethically responsible for the Sadhu. He ordered that the Sherpa’s take him further down to safety near the Japanese base camp. The Japanese hikers provided the Sadhu with food and drink. Providing the Sadhu with food, drink, clothing, and warmth were all that the group felt they could give without obstructing their self-interest in reaching the top of the peak.
The climbers would not have acted differently if this were a