The Israel-War Email That College Presidents Should’ve Sent
Welcome to Up for Debate. Each week, Conor Friedersdorf rounds up timely conversations and solicits reader responses to one thought-provoking question. Later, he publishes some thoughtful replies. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Question of the Week
Two friends, Petra and Rodrigo, are having an argument.
Petra thinks the world is best if people stay in their lane and do their job as best they can, narrowly construed. CEOs should try to maximize profits within the law. Emergency-room doctors should do their best to save the life of every patient. Lawyers should represent every client to the utmost of their ability. Scholars should publish their findings as accurately as possible. And parking-meter attendants should write citations without regard for who is getting them.
Rodrigo thinks the world is best if everyone is not only doing their job, but taking a broader view in an attempt to improve society. CEOs should feel a social responsibility to donate some corporate profits to good causes. Emergency-room doctors should triage in a way that treats shooting victims before shooting perpetrators. Lawyers should try less hard when their clients are morally odious. Scholars should withhold findings that cut against social justice. And parking-meter attendants should give a break to,say, the shift worker who always refills her meter but is regularly five minutes late
