3 ms·
I think you missed the point of the quote: Orwell is saying that to see someone suffer is in line with our ethics; someone who suffers can be ethically reasone
by robbiep 11y ago
I think you missed the point of the quote:
Orwell is saying that to see someone suffer is in line with our ethics; someone who suffers can be ethically reasoned to have earned what dues come their way.
Compare the beggar in orwell's quote, if you will, to the injured war veteran who benefits from a fundraiser. He has suffered, so we consider it worthy for him to benefit through community actions.
Why is he worthy of the benefit? Because he suffered. I am not worthy because I have not suffered as he has. The beggar? Suffering.
You are thinking very stringently if you are interpreting the quote as a 'literal' trade, broken toe for dinner for a week
- hifier 11y agoNo. The veteran is worthy because in his suffering, he provided value to the community.
- Retra 11y agoThe beggar provides value by only extracting a pittance. If he were, say, a burglar, he would be taking far more than he needs, and that would actually be costing you something less reasonable. If everyone only used what they needed, we'd all have plenty of resources to dedicate to the communal good.
- hifier 11y agoIt's disgusting to be comparing a veteran's suffering to a beggar's.
- Nutmog 11y agoIn which direction? Is it because the veteran is a murderer while the beggar is harmless or because the veteran's suffering is more severe than the beggar's?
- invalidOrTaken 11y agoThe difference is intent. The injured war veteran, at least according to the official fiction, suffered in the course of benefiting the community. Whether they succeeded is up for debate, but the intent to benefit is seen as evidence that gifts/support/etc. won't "enable" them.