Ethics

Feather-display or not, but it is life. Father has told me early that keeping what not belongs to me always ends same way. People are free to choose, and bad choices bring back similar results.

Personally I believe that keeping that lens would trigger loose of...maybe camera, maybe something other - but more valuable than lens. I know, this is kind of primitive, but I can live with this.
 
The implied social contract is a construct in itself and as advocated by Hobbs, Locke, Rosseau keeping some justification for society. The underlying logic is in itself circular and although using the same term they differ in the causes for it as you all know.

Metaphysics is in itself a way of creating order and guidance for action and can not be separated from ethics. Metaphysical justification for action is also both an ontological and epistemological question to begin with.
 
You would do well in Japan. I've seen gold necklaces, wallets, fur coats, etc... left as found on the street, in the bathroom, wherever - waiting for the owner to return. You see a purse, there's no question but to find the owner. I'm only saddened that this is considered a choice in most of the world.
 
I've seen some forums where the receiver of the package would post a "what should I do?" and then wait for several days of debate before deciding. The majority of us feel the answer is obvious, others, not so much.
 
The answer is obvious, but keeping it must have been tempting for a few minutes. Ultimately, I would hope I'd do the same thing as the OP... but you never know until you're in the situation. I'd feel bad if I put myslef in the other people's shoes and ultimately, I think I'd do the right thing.

As far as expecting something... I think it is fair since a business is involved and the situation is taking up some of the OP's time.
 
Allow me to add one variable to the scenario:
Experimenting the lens (let's say, one roll) before sending it back to the sender.
What do you think? Right ? Acceptable ? Wrong ? "Less right" (if there is such an option)???
Looking forward to read your opinions
Joao
 
Joao said:
Allow me to add one variable to the scenario:
Experimenting the lens (let's say, one roll) before sending it back to the sender.
What do you think?
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it depends, I'll guess. One thing is to use it at home where it were delivered, and another - taking it out (can fall, be damaged, be stolen, etc.).

Anyway person like OP would take his responsibility if anything would go wrong during "trial period", even at home.

EDIT: there's also unclear if package is already opened or OP has contacted sender after recognizing him from info on package.
 
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it is possible such ethics are a social construct. But there is good evidence, in surveys of animal behaviour, that social groups recognise the benefit of such mutual co-operation.

The situation can be modelled in a game like Prisoner's Dilemma, which has been alluded to here before. If one person steals from another, and such behaviour becomes common, the entire social group will suffer.

In any case, in the UK at least, I believe that keeping an item which is not yours - for instance, a bank transfer which mistakenly ends up in your account - is theft, so the moral situation is clear.
 
Getting the lens in the mail was clearly a message from God.

He wanted you to have the lens.

Now that you have foolishly returned it, you have destroyed the intended order of the Universe.

The person who will now receive the lens may take a photograph with it that he would not have taken otherwise.

Maybe the photograph will be posted online. Someone who sees it might be influenced to kill someone, or perhaps the time he spent looking at the photograph will delay him several minutes, and he will be struck by a bus because of the alteration in the timing of his final excursion.

Perhaps millions of years from now, this tiny warp in events will cause a break in the fabric of the universe. A warring tribe will unearth a time capsule with instructions to develop a biplane in an era of post-nuclear devastation and destroy the rival tribe with the last vestiges of human DNA, leading to a planet populated by intelligent reptilians who will eventually populate the known universe, and their spacecraft propulsion systems will cause a rift in the fabric of space-time.

They may trace all this to you, and return in time to punish you in ways you can't even imagine.

You were a fool not to keep that lens. You have defied the will of God, refusing his gift.

Not only that, but you have advertised that fact in a public forum.

If you have not experienced Hell before, you will likely receive a swift education.

Next time think before you pat yourself on the back and crow.
 
Paul T. said:
...In any case, in the UK at least, I believe that keeping an item which is not yours - for instance, a bank transfer which mistakenly ends up in your account - is theft, so the moral situation is clear.
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In my proposed scenario, the equivalent behaviour would be to return the money but keeping the interests produced while the transfer was in the account. And then maybe the person / bank responsible for the wrong transfer (the "mistake" ) should be accountable to pay those interests to the owner.
But I don't know if things work that way in the real world...

Joao
 
Rayt said:
The OP still gets his karma points. It is OK to advertise good deeds. What is important is the deed itself.
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Matthew 6:1

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."

Just to say, there are alternative views on this.
 
This thread reminds me of the woman who kept poisoning her young daughter so that she could "resuscitate" the little girl every few weeks, claiming good karma and basking in the accolades and sympathy of her social circle.

One could even surmise that such a story could be a complete work of fiction, designed to boost one's moral standing on a forum.

In several weeks, I will begin to regale everyone here with my resoundingly moral deeds. I expect to have very good karma.

No doubt, soldiers who kill numerous "enemies" also are assumed to be accumulating "karma" and other holy positive markers.

I assume it's something like "green stamps". If you fill a whole book you get a cookie.
 
That's a little rough don't you think? He didn't create the situation. Not sure about the karma stamp book. Maybe Elvis is giving out badges.
 
bmattock said:
Matthew 6:1

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."

Just to say, there are alternative views on this.
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Suppose I donate 50 million dollars to a university so they name one of the medical school wings after me. Have I sinned?
 
Rayt said:
Suppose I donate 50 million dollars to a university so they name one of the medical school wings after me. Have I sinned?
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So the "Madoff Medical Annex" will fix up my karma? Count me in!
 
August Derleth said:
This thread reminds me of the woman who kept poisoning her young daughter so that she could "resuscitate" the little girl every few weeks, claiming good karma and basking in the accolades and sympathy of her social circle.
Click to expand...

Munchhausen by proxy. That's one of the creepiest disorders I know of.

Nice to see you're back, by the way.
 
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