The Owner and the Man and I look at One Another.

Then we look at the Bush.

Hello? Says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague.

Mildred has gone into the Bush and she Cannot get Out, says the Man.

Then you must Help Her, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague.

We look at One Another.

Mildred is Deep in a Spiky Bush, says the Man. She is Beyond Help.

We cannot even see Mildred, says the Owner.

It is Unfortunate that Mildred is not White, I say.

I cannot believe I am Hearing this, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague. What colour is Mildred?

We look at One Another.

Pink, says the Man.

Spotty, says the Owner.

Her Squeak has become Somewhat Plaintive of Late, I say.

Her Physical Afflictions do not remove your Moral Duty to Rescue, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague. The Duty of Rescue states that if someone can prevent a serious harm to another person without harm to self they have a Moral Duty to do so. Why have you not all Rushed to Save Her?

We look at One Another.

It is not a Harm-Free Rescue, says the Man. I have Bare Legs, says the Man.

I have Sensitive Legs,  says the Owner.

I have Multiple Legs, I say.

One cannot Deny the Duty of Rescue on the Basis of Legs, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague.  Even if the Duty of Rescue is Subject to Limitations to the Cost to Oneself, these may be Lifted if One is Morally Responsible for the Need to Rescue. Who demanded that the Ball be Thrown?

We look at One Another.

It was the Moral Dog, says the Man. He demanded that Mildred be Thrown. I seem to recall that there were suggestions that Dogline might be involved were Mildred to be Hidden in a Pocket.

That sounds Right, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague. The Principle of Causal Determination suggests that Blame Must be Attached to the One whose Actions made the Outcome Inevitable. Moral Responsibility undoubtedly lies with the one who Demanded that Mildred be Thrown. That Person must Rescue her at Once.

It was not my Fault, I say. She could have been Thrown Anywhere. Or Thrown More Gently. Or not thrown At All, I say. I did not Do the Throwing, I say.

He is Right, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague. The Principle of Causal Determination suggests that Blame Must be Attached to the One whose Actions made the Outcome Inevitable. Who provided the Momentum that sent Poor Mildred into the Bush? That Person must Rescue her at Once.

It was the Owner, I say. The Owner threw Mildred at the Foot of the Man, I say. The principle of Causal Determination says that the Owner is Morally Responsible, I say. The Owner provided the Momentum that Propelled Poor Mildred into the Bush, I say.

It was not my fault, says the Owner. I did not thrown Mildred Towards the Bush, says the Owner. I merely Threw Mildred in the Direction of the Man, says the Owner. The Principle of Causal Determination says the the Man is Morally Responsible. It was the Man who provided the Foot that Diverted Poor Mildred into the Bush.

She is Right, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague. The Principle of Causality suggests that Blame Must be Attached to the One whose Actions made the Outcome Inevitable. Moral Responsibility undoubtedly lies with the one whose Foot Propelled Poor Mildred into the Bush. That Person must Rescue Her at Once.

It is not my Fault, says the Man. I am the Mere Possessor of the Foot which poor Mildred hit. You cannot Hold Me Morally Responsible for an Unfortunate Rebound which occurred only Because I was Distracted just as the Ball Approached and did not therefore exercise any Moral Choice in the Matter. If I had not been Distracted my Foot would have been in a Different Place.

He is Right, says the Disembodied Voice of the Man’s Colleague. The Principle of Causality suggests that Blame Must be Attached to the One whose Actions made the Outcome Inevitable. Moral Responsibility undoubtedly lies with the one whose Distraction of the Man caused his Foot to Deviate and Directed Mildred into the Bush.  That Person must Rescue Her at Once.

We Look at One Another.

Then we all look at the Telephone.

Oh, says the Voice.

Categories: dignity dog dog philosophy

Hergest the Hound

I am a dog of many thoughts.