Fred Eb, a renowned philosopher specializing in ethics and disaster preparedness, found himself grappling with a complex moral dilemma. He had developed a sophisticated early warning system for earthquakes, capable of predicting tremors with remarkable accuracy. However, the system also revealed a disturbing pattern. The most accurate predictions consistently pointed to densely populated areas with limited resources for evacuation and disaster relief. Implementing the system would undoubtedly save countless lives, but it would also potentially lead to widespread panic and social unrest in those vulnerable communities. The strain on already limited resources could exacerbate existing inequalities, potentially leading to more suffering in the long run. Eb wrestled with the ethical implications. Was he morally obligated to share his potentially life-saving technology, even if it meant facing the risk of social disruption? Or was he justified in withholding the information to prevent a potentially worse outcome? He considered the utilitarian approach, aiming to maximize overall well-being, weighing the benefits of saving lives against the potential harms of widespread chaos. He also considered deontological ethics, focusing on the inherent rightness or wrongness of his actions, independent of their consequences. Further complicating matters, Eb's research was funded by a private corporation with a vested interest in limiting the disclosure of the system’s predictions. This introduced another layer to his ethical dilemma: his obligation to his funding source versus his responsibility to the public. His agonizing deliberation highlighted the fraught intersection between technological advancement, ethical responsibility, and the complex realities of disaster management in an unequal world.
1. What is the central ethical dilemma Fred Eb faces?
2. Which ethical framework does the passage suggest Eb is considering?
3. What additional ethical complication is introduced by the private corporation funding Eb's research?
4. The passage suggests that the implementation of the early warning system would likely exacerbate: