Okay, you've just introduced other people (the ancient civilization), undiscovered things (being possibly interesting to other people) and bombs. And if the people of the civilization are dead, and he will be the only one ever to live there, no it isn't an ethical problem for me.
While I wouldn't kill fish for fun, the hills of Colorado are covered with hunters this time of year who are killing deer for fun. They don't need to do it. Some will only wound their prey, others will shoot animals they can't take legally. So while I wouldn't do kill fish out of boredom, maybe he needs to do it to save himself mentally. I think the answer is no in the desert island case (unless he is causing starvation or a loss of a species, which is involving others off the island).
These examples seem very contrived. Do you have a less artificial example where his ethical nature is uncovered by his normal daily action alone (with no possible impact on others). I don't think so. Here are some:
If the guy on the island stimulates himself sexually, is it an ethical issue? Some would say yes, but I don't think so. If a bible washes up on shore and he uses all the pages as toilet paper, is that an ethical issue. I think no. You may feel free to disagree, but you can't do it without invoking something speculative. |
