When considering an ethical choice, it seems to me that the only thing you can rightfully consider is whether you are doing the right thing, not what others possibly may do in the future.
It may be that the slave owner would kill the slaves if their labor wasn't needed, it may be that the slave owner would free the slaves, you have no way of knowing with any certainty.
Is it possible that you might talk yourself into making a morally wrong choice as a way to rationalize that choice?
Coda: when I shop at Whole Foods natural grocery store and the crunchy cashiers ask me "paper or plastic?" I always say, "whatever. You decide." And they almost always pick based on what's easier to pack, at least, that's the way it looks to me, they pack just like the cashiers do at Safeway, plastic unless it's a large item, which they put in a bag.
If the ethical choice was clear, then they'd make it for you, as Trader Joe's does, paper. |
