I want help with this question

Question

Think of the most important person in the world to you (Mom, Dad, Grandparent, Sibling……etc.) If that person has been waiting on a transplant list for so long without any chance of getting a kidney AND the doctor told you that person was going to die in a couple of days if an organ cannot be found……would you try to buy a human organ on the black market? Fully explain WHY or WHY NOT

•AND - remember STRAIN theory and the life boat drill

Plz I want an average explanation, not a short explanation

Answer 1

The line of thinking arguing that I (or you) would commit a crime to save your family is a central idea in strain theory. Strain theory suggests that even if you wouldn't normally break the law, you would break the law if put under certain pressure. The love of your family overrides your belief in the more abstract concept of "Law and Order." So the question you have to ask yourself is: would you commit a crime because you love your family and their health more than you care about how dangerous the black market can be?

I believe the lifeboat drill you are referring to is the hypothetical where you have a lifeboat with 12 people on it. It is too full and you must throw people off the lifeboat if everyone is to be safe. The central question of the life boat drill is this: would you save family/ friends first or would you randomly chose who lives and who dies, even if that means killing your family or even dying yourself?

Both of these questions exist to point out that a lot of people care more about emotional and intuitive truths than more "logical" or "objective" truths. Most people agree that the black market is bad and dangerous, but when it is the one way to save a life, maybe it is the right choice for your family. When you consider the question think about what matters to you more: your loved ones, or your morals? If your loved ones are your morals, then you know your answer.

If you have any further questions about your specific thoughts on the question, please feel free to message me.

Answer 2

Hey John!

This is a cool question. Your teacher wants you to state your opinion. There is no wrong answer here as long as you back it up with complex thoughts. What is more important to you- following the law and being a good citizen or saving your family despite the possible illegality?

Let's make sure we understand the question- the Black Market= the illegal selling of organs (eew!). It's illegal and you could be put in jail for participating in it. But if buying an organ from an illegal seller could save your family, would you do it?

In your answer, your teacher wants you to explain how the lifeboat drill and STRAIN theory relate. The lifeboat drill might have been an activity you did in class? Just be sure to discuss what the drill taught you about doing illegal or immoral (wrong) things in order to save others.

STRAIN theory says that sometimes, good law abiding people will break the law if it will affect them socially (in this case- save a loved one) https://www.britannica.com/topic/strain-theory-sociology. In your response, say whether or not STRAIN theory applies to you (If you say YES you would buy an illegal organ to save your family then yes it applies to you! If you decide that No you would not do something illegal to save your family then you could say STRAIN theory is not fulfilled in your answer.

In summary-

1. State your opinion & why (Yes I would participate in the illegal black market in order to save my family because....)
2. State at least 2-3 reasons why you chose your answer
3. Mention whether or not STRAIN Theory applies.
4. Discuss the Life Boat Activity and how it relates or influenced your thinking.
5. Conclude with a summary of your opinion

Hope that helps :)