What do we owe each other? |
In the midst of seemingly endless conflicts and their aftershocks that continue to define displacement of millions of people, people across the world often find asking: what do we owe each other? What does it mean to care for another person in a world shaped by 'me first' principles?
Lately, I have been doing a thought experiment inspired by my colleagues in philosophy and humanities, who I have had the pleasure of teaching with. It goes something like this. Imagine that there is a community - let's call it group A - on a boat in an uncalm sea. There are several other boats in the water as well. Some are bigger, stronger and more resourced and relatively unaffected by the choppy waters; and others are smaller, not quite as strong and have fewer resources.
Now imagine that in these treacherous waters, one boat with people - let's call them community B - has had a series of accidents, and may soon sink, in part due to poor construction, a........