Reference no: EM133412933

Case Study: You are being transported back in time to take part in a trial. A ship boat captain is being tried for murder, and you are the jury. What is your verdict based only on the following information?

On July 22, 1843, the SS Merryweather was overtaken by a Tsunami tidalwave. No distress signal could be sent before the wave hit. Of the 123 passengers, 22 survived to swim to a lifeboat. The small lifeboat had 6 attached oars and could carry 12 passengers. The captain determined that the only way for at least some of the survivors to make it to land (over 200 miles away) would be to allow the strongest rowers to remain in the boat. Others too weak to row would regrettably be removed from the lifeboat by force. While some of those removed from the lifeboat clung to driftwood, none were found. The lifeboat with its 12 passengers made land seven days after the initial incident (although two had died of dehydration and starvation). As the captain later testified, "I had a responsibility to save as many lives as possible. Had we all remained, the boat would have sunk. Because of my quick thinking, at least 10 persons are alive who would otherwise have died at sea."

Questions: Your assignment for discussion:

1. State your verdict (guilty or innocent of murder) AND state your reasoning (that is, try to determine whether your judgement is based on the consequences, duty, or something else).

2. Return to the discussion board to argue with your fellow jurors regarding their judgment. Even if you all agree on the verdict, you must question the various reasons for that judgement.

[Recall, this assignment--like all discussion assignments--requires making two posts: an initial response to the above question, and then response post where you dialogue critically with a classmate.]