Name: Caryl Jole O.

Paligsa September 23, 2021

GE 8- Ethics Mr. Ismael Magadan

Question: Did commander Lutrell do the right thing? Explain your thoughts based on
everything you’ve learned from the lecture on “Ethical Relativism.” Make a video
recording of your answer. The submission box shall close by 0900am of Sept. 23.

Ethical relativism is the theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of one's
culture. That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the
society in which it is practiced.

A real example discussed by Sandel, one more complicated than the trolley examples, is the case
of the afghan goatherds. In 2005, four US Navy SEALs were on a secret mission in Afghanistan
to observe, and possibly capture and kill, a Taliban leader who was believed to an ally of Osama
bin Laden. They werevvvv on a mountain ridge, looking down at the village where the Taliban
leader was thought to be staying, when three Afghan goatherds, one of whom was a fourteen
year old boy, came across them.

The soldiers were faced with a difficult dilemma. In order for their mission to continue and for
them to remain safe from attack, their presence in the area had to remain secret. So, should they
kill these three unfortunate civilians? This may be the only definite way to prevent the news of
their presence from being spread throughout the village, as the goatherds might tell others if
given the chance.

According to the book, not long after the SEALs released the goatherds, they were attacked by
Taliban fighters, and only one of the four team members survived. Perhaps the SEALs
seriously considered murder that day. Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor, claims he argued
against the killing. Instead, he accuses his deceased friends, who are unable to respond.

The ethical relativism of these that It would be unfair to hold Lutrell solely responsible for this.
He frequently blames himself for making the wrong decision that day, implying that he believes
the goatherds should have been killed. For combat veterans, some survivor guilt is almost
unavoidable.

The scenario has many variations but it involves the selection between the death of 1 that is
typically innocent and therefore the deaths of many more who is also less innocent.

However, the story's central "moral quandary," in which American fighting men must decide
whether to kill three Afghan goatherds who might jeopardize their mission, is either a gross
embellishment or a barely averted war crime.