A Callous Passerby

Roger Smith, a quite competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During the course of his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into the water. The boy is screaming for help. Smith recognizes that there is absolutely no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless, he chooses to ignore the boy's cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold -- he doesn't want to get his good clothes wet either. "Why should I inconvenience myself for this kid," Smith says to himself, and passes on.

Does Smith have a moral obligation to save the boy? If so, should he have a legal obligation ["Good Samaritan" laws] as well?

smith didn't behaved morally.He should have saved the boy.It's a moral obligation.He should have imagined that the boy in need could be his son.

smith didn't behaved morally.He should have saved the boy.It's a moral obligation.He should have imagined that the boy in need could be his son.

Should he have had a legal obligation because he didn't save the boy?

Morally, he should have saved the boy. But there isn't a legal obligation for him. personally I think nearly all people lead their lives according to moral values so legal responsibility isn't effective in this situation

A Callous Passerby

Roger Smith, a quite competent swimmer, is out for a leisurely stroll. During the course of his walk he passes by a deserted pier from which a teenage boy who apparently cannot swim has fallen into the water. The boy is screaming for help. Smith recognizes that there is absolutely no danger to himself if he jumps in to save the boy; he could easily succeed if he tried. Nevertheless, he chooses to ignore the boy's cries. The water is cold and he is afraid of catching a cold -- he doesn't want to get his good clothes wet either. "Why should I inconvenience myself for this kid," Smith says to himself, and passes on.

Does Smith have a moral obligation to save the boy? If so, should he have a legal obligation ["Good Samaritan" laws] as well?

He didn't have to save the kid. He didint want to catch a cold and his clothes would get wet if he tried to save the kid. Nobody can judge him,because it was his decision . Of course,what he did is morally wrong and surely according to us,but it can be gathered that the moral values he has told him to do so in that situation and he had no legal obligation

i think it's a matter of consciense.If he has got no conscience at all about leaving the boy there drowning there's nothing to do.His clothes can dry after getting them wet however the boy cannot come back after dying...

Seeing or reading or watching what people can do for animals in need, what can be said?
But when it comes to the point whether it should be a legal obligation or not , I do not think it may work but it is a must .I do not know whether you have seen "Barda" a film based on a true story with a bit of exaggerated scenes, although I do not usually watch such things, its being based on a true story attracted me and I watched it , then I read the story itself and saw that if people around them hadn t ignored what was happening for twelve hours or so , things could be different for those people today.
;)

i hated him!!! the boy probably died because of him!! i think he is not a human!!

Maybe it is because our moral values say that we have to save the boy,but according to some cultures you dont have to help anybody in need of help,
Two weeks ago,i watched in a documentary there was a man lying in the middle of a street in United States and most probably the man was shot from his legs,stomach and what is suprising is that people walking,darlings kissing each other,laughing as they were passing by him no one even a person encroach him.After half an hour,ambulance came.Now,may we say during half an hour,people ignored him are all immoral,i do not think so because their morality says so,they learned from their parents in that way,unfortunately,i hope i was able to say what is in my mind