Ali Omar Forozish, Kassel University, Department of Economics
ABSTRACT
A person's life is how valuable? Is it possible to take another person's life to survive in an extremely hostile environment? Is it possible to argue that one person's life is worth more than another's? Can the lack of a family and being single be used as justifications for sacrificing someone? In other words, this case raised a number of ethical issues that needed to be addressed. Do the majority's needs take precedence over those of the minority? Can cowardly behavior be excused by trying circumstances? How much can people still be polite and decent to one another while their ship is harmed and about to capsize? In common law nations, these are the kinds of queries that followed Regina v Dudley and Stephens case. This article offers a case study of this problem in British legal history. The impact of the court's ruling on the Commonwealth nations is also assessed.
