Dear Etty,

I frequently hear different members who chair Sunday morning platforms talk about the Northern Virginia Ethical Society as their community.  Why do you think having a community is important? 

Ethicist in Virginia

Dear EV,

In 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of the episodes involves astronauts on a mission to Jupiter who are dependent on an artificial intelligence computer named Hal (the HAL 9000).  After the computer murderously malfunctions, Hal pleads with astronaut Dave not to disengage its memory banks.  Hal asks, “Dave stop.  Stop, will you?  Stop, Dave. Will you stop, Dave?  Stop, Dave.  I’m afraid.  I’m afraid, Dave.  Dave, my mind is going.”  The ironic twist is that a computer has suffered from what appears to be a psychotic breakdown.   Nevertheless, we feel empathy for the computer because it is aware of its mortality.  Could empathy (the ability to identify with and understand somebody else’s feelings or difficulties) be what we seek through community?  Do we long for understanding from others?  If so, consider making the Ethical Society your community by connecting with just one other person.  I wonder whether the space trip would have ended so badly had Hal and Dave established an empathetic community.    

Etty

Are you feeling uncertain about an ethical quandary?  Send an e-mail to steamer64@cox.net